Wolf cull poll

[Chuckbuster]

A

i do agree with some of your points, but I have a big problem with others. I think you should have done more research on the current wolf population and plans in BC before you said what you did. I agree we as humans have knocked things out of whack, but we have to tools to help out. which include habitat restoration, culls, and other means. sad reality is habitat restoration does not happen to nearly the scale it should. another huge problem, is developing the winter range. it is very frustrating.

I really have a problem when you say culls in bc wont work, they do work, and have in the past. I know guys like to throw around the "science" word on online forums, but to be honest I have a hard time buying a lot of what you guys say, because someone said it is proven by science. especially when it has to do with a wolf cull. because for some reason wolves are a symbol among nature lovers. they will spew and twist numbers to no end to "save" the wolf.

My concern is that the underlying biological/ecological reasons espoused for such culls (not just the one at hand) are often unsound. Culls may reduce predation sufficiently enough to appear to work in the short term, but long term can lead to further imbalances and problems that must be solved. One of the biggest issues is habitat loss and degradation. From what I have read, a big problem facing the caribou populations in question is in fact habitat loss and degradation. Yes, a vulnerable population is more susceptible to predation, but then, that's what wolves and other predators do.

Another CGNer has provided a link to a study on Yukon culls in another thread. I have not had time to go through it carefully as yet, but in quickly looking over some relevant information, I noticed the authors stated that, in the end, culls will be ineffective if issues such as habitat degradation/loss and mortality from other sources (including other predators) is not addressed simultaneously. But, more on that after I have gone through it carefully.

 

[45ACPKING]

Wolves in my direct vicinity are indeed pushing other predators out. Sign of bobcat, lynx and cougar are dwindling, replaced by wolf sign.
One of my friends runs a trap line up the mountain behind me and he's at 8 wolves and 1 lynx in an area that was predominantly cat country. He's the only guy I know locally that is pleased to see more wolf around but then again, he's able to sell the pelts for decent coin.

In the end, I'm not a big fan of culls but I also spend a heck of a lot more time in the back country than most folks and evry where I go in this province, wolves have moved in and are upsetting the balance.
I am sure it has many reasons for being this way and I won't pretend to be "educated" on the topic. BUT it sure seems to me that there are too many wolves in too many areas to be ignored any longer.

 

[Chuckbuster]

Wolves in my direct vicinity are indeed pushing other predators out. Sign of bobcat, lynx and cougar are dwindling, replaced by wolf sign.
One of my friends runs a trap line up the mountain behind me and he's at 8 wolves and 1 lynx in an area that was predominantly cat country. He's the only guy I know locally that is pleased to see more wolf around but then again, he's able to sell the pelts for decent coin.

In the end, I'm not a big fan of culls but I also spend a heck of a lot more time in the back country than most folks and evry where I go in this province, wolves have moved in and are upsetting the balance.
I am sure it has many reasons for being this way and I won't pretend to be "educated" on the topic. BUT it sure seems to me that there are too many wolves in too many areas to be ignored any longer.

I think like most people, we tend to fear change, or at the least be wary and untrusting of it. The ecological balance in any natural community will change over time. The problem for us is that we get used to the way things are and then the balance shifts. The shift is neither good nor bad as far as the ecosystem is concerned, it is merely the natural progression. On the other hand, we assign value to this or that animal or plant and don't want to see it go.

I am not a fan of culls for any species (although when younger, I thought deer culls would be a great opportunity). But I do recognize that they may be necessary as an extreme measure when a particular ecosystem is so far out of balance (because of human meddling) that without one, the system as a whole will collapse and take it's entire community of flora and fauna with it. Call me a skeptic, but I generally find the reasons offered for most culls don't pass that (my) sniff test.

 

[45ACPKING]

I think like most people, we tend to fear change, or at the least be wary and untrusting of it. The ecological balance in any natural community will change over time. The problem for us is that we get used to the way things are and then the balance shifts. The shift is neither good nor bad as far as the ecosystem is concerned, it is merely the natural progression. On the other hand, we assign value to this or that animal or plant and don't want to see it go.

I am not a fan of culls for any species (although when younger, I thought deer culls would be a great opportunity). But I do recognize that they may be necessary as an extreme measure when a particular ecosystem is so far out of balance (because of human meddling) that without one, the system as a whole will collapse and take it's entire community of flora and fauna with it. Call me a skeptic, but I generally find the reasons offered for most culls don't pass that (my) sniff test.

Can agree with you there.

 

[Chuckbuster]

Can agree with you there.

Cheers!

 

[ljones]

where in BC you live? are you hunting them?

North West Coastal BC. I try to get out a little but my health is not too good so hard for me to hunt too much. I have been face to face with 4 of them over the last few years, but hard to get a shot in the thick brush where I live.

I doubt they are animals from three packs. Wolves are very territorial and would not tolerate strangers being so close to or within their territory.

Yup three packs. They have been seen. It is at the head of a long fjord and a large valley bisected with a large river. The town is the intersection of the three territories. The valley 20 years ago had no wolves to be found. A good population of moose and the deer found their way back and were a common sight until about 4 years ago. Since then the wolves have taken over and very little moose or deer to be seen. Not even any tracks to be seen. Just wolf tracks everywhere now. Cougar too.

 

[Boomer]

I prefer to see wolves treated as game animals, and have their numbers controlled by sport hunting and through the efforts of trappers, but sometimes this isn't enough. When wolf predation around here starts to threaten dog teams and pets, a community wolf hunt usually resolves the problem in short order.

 

[Chuckbuster]

North West Coastal BC. I try to get out a little but my health is not too good so hard for me to hunt too much. I have been face to face with 4 of them over the last few years, but hard to get a shot in the thick brush where I live.



Yup three packs. They have been seen. It is at the head of a long fjord and a large valley bisected with a large river. The town is the intersection of the three territories. The valley 20 years ago had no wolves to be found. A good population of moose and the deer found their way back and were a common sight until about 4 years ago. Since then the wolves have taken over and very little moose or deer to be seen. Not even any tracks to be seen. Just wolf tracks everywhere now. Cougar too.

Ah, okay, thanks. I thought about that type of possibile confluence of boundaries after the fact, and didn't think of it when typing. Thanks for the clarification.