Recently, Canadians have embraced the wild image that is presented of them at home and around the world.  A great piece in this months’ Canadian Geographic pointed out that our Olympic mascots were wild icons that have found themselves on the endangered species list, but are any Canadians aware of their current demise?  What were we cheering for when wearing our jerseys knit with Canadian flags and bears, caribou, and marmots?  Certainly not our true WILD strong and free?

 It seem like a slap in the face to conservationists and the wildlife they are working to protect when Canadian species are celebrated on stamps, professional teams, and currency as the government uses their images for promotion while “secretly” destroying the very basic needs that all species have; clean air, water, food, and enough space.

 A 1979 BC government document we recently came across states that even selective logging would lead to a decline in caribou in the future.  Now the government is saying that we need to kill more wolves, cougars, moose, deer and elk to help caribou recover.  How many people know about the lengthened hunting seasons, removal of bag limits, reduction and sterilization programs that the government funds with our own tax dollars?  This is where the secrecy comes in, or at least the lack of transparency. 

 Let us use the wolf as a prime example.  What the government DOES show the public is a new five dollar coin featuring a wolf.  It will be round, and shiny, and beautiful.  But tarnished by the fact that this coin will be worth more than the wild animals’ own natural skin.  The royalty for a wolf pelt in BC is $3.38. The BC government has failed the wolf, an intelligent animal with its own intrinsic value, has failed nature as wolves bring benefits to ecosystems by maintaining health and balance, and is failing First Nations peoples and all Canadians by refusing to recognize the cultural significance of this top predator.  It has failed caribou by knowingly desecrating every thing that they need to survive, and then pointing a finger of blame at other species.  Can we turn this around?  BC has an opportunity as well as a responsibility to the rest of the world to maintain intact and functioning ecosystems….globally recognized environmental concerns can be addressed in our province, if we start now!  We STILL HAVE biodiversity and large intact forests worth preserving, while other countries around the world are striving to put back these things back together.

BC has no laws or legislation that protect threatened wildlife.  This province relies on Canada’s Species at Risk Act, SARA, which can only extend “protection” to federal lands within the province – amounting to about 1% of beautiful British Columbia.  Even  SARA is repeatedly criticized for doing too little too late, and not having the “teeth” that the American Endangered Species Act has.  This needs to change.  British Columbians have a lot to lose, and we must begin by recognizing what is at stake.  Not only our wild species and spaces, but also our identity as good land stewards; our cultures and natural history; our imagination and creativity celebrated by songs, stories, legends, photos, paintings, drawings, poetry, movies; and our  team spirit and pride as animal mascots become only memories.

In January we will be presenting some of our favourite BC wildlife images and discussing the need for an endangered species law in this province.  More animals and plants are added to the threatened list each year, but with legislation that puts wildlife and wild places first, perhaps we can stall the ever-hungry predators of resource extraction and commercial recreation.  There are some things that money cannot buy.  And many of these wonders are found in BC and need people to start caring, not just wearing.  Look for an announcement about the details of an upcoming presentation on BC Species at Risk, which will be shared and co-hosted by several of Golden’s local conservation groups.

 By Sadie Parr

I ask who is accountable?  I was awaiting a meeting with former minister Penner, after dropping off about 4,000 signed letters to his office opposing predator control and knowing that hundreds more (at least) were sent in as well.  On October 23, 178 letters were faxed to BC Premier in ONE DAY opposing predator control.  I sent an e-mail to follow-up and request a meeting.  Campbell resigned.  Penner got shuffled.  Before resigning, Campbell sent the new environment minister Murray Coell an e-mail suggesting that we arrange a meeting.  I e-mailed Coell’s office my request to do so.  I snail mailed Coell’s office the request.  A few days ago I phoned to follow up on these requests, and could not reach anyone from the ministry of environment office the entire day.  22 environmental organizations have joined together to oppose predator control and let the BC government know their are other solutions….but how do we reach the decision makers? And do they understand what is at risk here?

 Especially when talking about voting, a majority of people say “well my vote won’t matter in the long run because I’m just one person”, but it is that mentality that creates a dead stop of constructive change. Every major influence in history has, from the root of things, come from one person. It was the idea that developed in the mind of one individual that grew and spread into the minds of others. If we look back to the past, equal rights, war, and conservation alike have all been started by one person. It was only after those individuals gained the support of thousands of others that their ideas were finally taken seriously.

 If we dissect Rudyard Kipling’s words a little further there is a clear, concise message. Without the individual there is no group and without the group, their voices will not be heard. It is essential for the progress of any movement to have an individual who will voice themselves and gain the support of their peers. Without the strong minds of these free thinkers, the supporting community will lie dormant and nothing will ever come of anything.

 So for everyone who thinks to themselves “what would one vote change,” just remember one thing: there are thousands of others who are thinking just like you. So if every individual took a stand and voted for something they believe in, more and more people are likely to do the same. Why sit at home and complain about a poor outcome, when we all have the power to change the world to our liking.

 From the staff and pack of the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, we urge you to make your choices known and vote in the next election. Make our government work for you. Choose biodiversity, choose conservation, choose a healthy future. VOICE YOUR CHOICE.

 The judge’s ruling came in response to the management programs that had been set in both Idaho and Montana. It was said that until the state of Wyoming can aline it’s wolf management program with those of Idaho and Montana that the grey wolf will remain on the Endangered Species List until further notice. Idaho and Montana were considered to have adequate protections for the wolf populations under their plans. However, the Fish and Wildlife Services did not find Wyoming’s management plan acceptable and decided to retain Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in that state.

 It was this ‘cut-out’ of Wyoming that opened the door for Judge Molloy’s ruling. After the final rule for delisting the Northern Rocky Mountain wolves came into effect in Feb 2009, a coalition of animal rights groups sued the Fish and Wildlife Services, asserting that under the Endangered Species Act, either all wolves in a region are delisted or none can be.

 Judge Molloy understood the plight facing most wildlife that spread over vast landscapes. With animals that travel great distances, like the wolf for example, it is unfair and cruel to provide them protection while neighboring states, sometimes only miles away, do not. All the hard work trying to protect and repopulate these animals would be undone with a singe shot when crossing over state lines. And so, on Aug 5th, with Judge Molloy’s ruling to re-list wolves, the wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain area now receive the same protection across those states.

 As a human race we live by our own boundaries, our own states and provinces, that are unknown to wildlife. Thanks to the insightful and understanding nature of Judge Donald Molloy, wolves in the Northern American Rockies now live by their own boundaries; territories unseen my man. Only then, with the freedom of travel, will wolves truly be able to thrive and preform their natural roles as a top predator.

 How long will this protection blanket the area? This is still unknown. The states of Idaho and Montana are working together to form a management plan for wolves in Wyoming that will ultimately negate the plan to keep wolves on the endangered species list. But for now we can rest easy in the fact that wolves can now live in peace with our neighbors.

The BC government has implemented a pilot program to increase caribou populations that includes culling and sterilizing wolves with a proposal to also kill them from helicopters.  In the pilot stage of this program they have removed bag limits from certain regions.  Since there isn’t a specific tag to hunt wolves this means anybody with a hunting license can go to these areas and eliminate an entire pack.  However, even though this program is in effect to save the caribou, in the Prince George region you can hunt caribou 100 kilometers away from an area with a no bag limit on wolves.  The government is covering their tracks by stating that predator control is only part of their plan.  Other parts of their plan include prohibiting timber harvesting and road building in 2.2 million hectares of land and closing 1 million hectares to snowmobilers.  However, mining, along with the roads needed for mining, is allowed in the prohibited areas and when you break it down 2.2 million hectares is only 22000 km².  Don’t be fooled by the government’s marketing skills! 

I’m glad they are recognizing human impact as a factor for the mountain caribou decline but they need to realize that it’s the biggest factor!  Therefore, they need to step back and grasp that killing all the wolves is more human impact that will disrupt the natural ecology of the forest.

Stay informed and spread the word!  Ignorance is not bliss.

 It’s not surprising that the First Nations saw the wolf as a significant animal. Both were hunters of which the survival of their families depended. The First Nations people were very aware of the many ways in which their own life resembled those of the wolf. The wolf hunted for himself and for his family. The wolf defended his pack against enemy attack, as the First Nations people defended their tribe. He had to be strong as an individual and for the good of the pack. It was a sufficient system of survival; and in the eyes of the Native Americans, no animal did this as well as the wolf. The Indian worked to be as well integrated in his environment, as he could see the wolf was in the universe.

 The hunter did not see the wolf as an enemy or competitor, or as something less than himself. His perception of the wolf was a realistic assessment of the wolf’s ability to survive and thrive, to be in balance with the world they shared. He respected the wolf’s patience and perseverance, which were his most effective hunting weapons. To say he hunted like a wolf was the highest compliment, just as to say a warrior fought like the wolf was high praise.

 The old ones tell us stories about our beginnings and of a time when human kind first came to live upon this Earth. It was the wolf who taught people the ways of living in harmony. It was the wolf who taught us how to form community upon this Earth, for wolves have an intuitive knowledge of order through chaos and they possess the ability to survive change, intact.

 So where did we go so wrong? How could our perception of wolves change so much through the course of time? Now they are believed to be a pest with little to no purpose in todays world. Many of our values still correspond with those of wolves, but as we developed with technology, we began to rely more heavily on simplicity, convenience, income, and mass production. It was no longer important to be in complete harmony with nature, instead to was our goal to take as much as we could before it was too late. We diverted our attention from survival to comforts. Although we still see the need to provided for and keep close bonds with our families, but instead of harvesting the bear minimum from nature we are depleting it of all resources.

 We use to look up to the wolf for guidance and inspiration, but now we look down at it as if the wolf were no more important than a pile of dung on the sidewalk. Some people say that there is nothing to be leaned from our past, but I believe that we can learn a lot from our ancestors. Our connection to nature and spirit were so strong that we would have defended it until death, however that is no longer that case. Now that same can be said about out couches and flatscreen TVs. Is it too late to reconnect with nature? Have we done so much damage already that there is no hope of recovery. Maybe not! Make your voice heard and support wildlife conservation. One voice can change the course of the future. Make it yours by voting in the next election and save your wildlife.

    1.     Upon first discovering attractants left out for bears to find, Conservation Offices issue a warning to the offender,

    2.     Second the Conservation Officer must then monitor the property to uphold cleanliness,

    3.     Finally, if the offender continues to disperse attractants a second warning is given.

So there really is no punishment for offenders to begin with, but due to cut funding those Conservation Officers are unable to contain and maintain attractants. Our efforts to become “bear smart” are negated because of the simple fact that there is no enforcement to those laws. Now it has become clear that other steps must be taken to keep wildlife wild. At the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre we support the use of Karelian Bear Dogs to show bears that our territories and garbage are not for them. However it is considered harassment of wildlife to use Bear Shepherding under Section 78 of the BC Wildlife Act. Our government also refuses to look into this program unless those communities have become “bear smart”. So in the end we are going around in circles. There is no end in sight because we are fighting against ourselves with unobtainable goals and unrealistic solutions. Our only hope is that we soon realize that bears need our help to learn about a territorial divide instead of shooting them when sauntering into private property.

You can help by writing to our government and convincing them that we have only one solution that is worth putting time and money into. Support Bear Shepherding with the use of Karelian Bear Dogs to save our wildlife.

Rico deserves a good life....

Wolf-dog hybrids are still legal to own as pets in Alberta and BC to anyone who wants to have one….this is WRONG!  Every year we get more people asking us to HELP them, ie. “rescue” their hybrid as they can no longer care for it. 

This week we received an e-mail from an animal-lover who is trying to help a mostly wolf hybrid “Rico”.  Rico’s owner was leaving town for work, and gave away this loyal companion with no questions asked. He is three legged, -a farmer used a 22 gun to injure, not kill, Rico because Rico was too close to their cows.

 At Northern Lights we cannot take in these animals, as they would not be accepted by the pack that we care for.  So what happens to these canines?  Where do they go?  In BC we know of one place in Vancouver that tries to help, and a woman in Saskatoon is also helping with rescues.  Most end up at shelters where they are euthanized.  The best thing for Rico at this point would be to stay with his new caretaker…too often these animals are passed along from one home to the next.  In the USA there are individuals who have dedicated their lives and estates to providing a safe place for unwanted wolf-dog hybrids to live out their days.  Unfortunately, the quality of life offered is not always the best, as many hybrids need rescuing and few people are willing to help.  If this is a topic that concerns you, we are working on developing a database for information and looking into what more CAN be done.

As it stands at the present time, wolves are being blamed for the drop in population, but here is the truth. The human race is making it far to easy for wolves to pray on the caribou. It is true that wolves hunt these highly endangered animals, but for a countless number of years those large antler bearing creatures have learned to hide or avoid wolf encounters all together. Caribou depend on old-growth forests for food as well as to avoid predators. One predator avoidance strategy requires living in the deep interior of the forest. In the winter months the snow is often too deep for predators, especially at higher elevations, but caribou use their large hooves to travel in areas where wolves would have a very difficult time keeping up. It is here, deep in the forest, where caribou are safest and have the greatest opportunity to repopulate. However, mankind has once again interfered with natures master plan. After disrupting the natural habitat of the Mountain Caribou, the following could and most frequently does happen:

1. Tree lichen, their primary food source found in old-growth forests, grows extremely slow and will be lost when cut blocks are made.
2. Herds become fragmented so individuals cannot get back and forth to breed. Caribou will not move into open areas because it exposes them to predation and they are very vulnerable without cover to hide in.
3. Shrubs and small plants begin to grow after an area is clear-cut or burned. This is known as early seral growth, witch attracts moose, elk, and deer. Predators follow these other animals into the area and feed on all the ungulates, including caribou.
4. Wolves do not hunt on caribou frequently. The caribou tend to spend most of their time at higher altitudes where a traveling wolf would have extreme difficulties tracking, catching, and killing caribou in the very deep snow. With the help of local snowmobilers, wolves are able to move easily along the packed down snow that once kept them away from the endangered caribou.

But wolves are not entirely to blame. For the most part they do not even take part in the declining numbers. For thousands of years, traveling animals, like the caribou, have learned about the well-worn migration routes from the generations before them. But what happens when those ancient pathways meet modern human development? Many of these migration routes have now been blocked by fences, subdivisions and highways. Scientists are concerned that the animals, confronted by such blockages, will not seek alternative routes but will, instead, stop migrating. This issue, known as the pooling effect, will in turn cause overgrazing and eventually may lead to the disappearance of these beloved creatures.

So here is the truth. We have a greater connection to the decline of the Mountain Caribou then wolves do. It is true that wolves do prey on the caribou, but the numbers taken down by the feared wolf pack are far less then the number of caribou indirectly killed by human involvement. So really the “Wolf Wars” are wars against ourselves. Culling wolf populations are actually hurting the wildlife in the long run. Looking back at Yellowstone’s example, we need wolves to keep the greater picture intact. Without ‘the big bad wolf’ we run the risk of losing all wildlife instead of the believed one or two. Until we can change ourselves, all of our actions are contradictory. We are a race of resource consumers. When we stop relying on old-growth forests for paper and oil for power we can finally leave nature to itself. When we become self sustainable, as nature intended, we can coexist with our so-called enemy. Maybe we need to take a lesson from Mother Nature instead of stomping it into the ground. (Is saving the Caribou even Necessary? Does Mother Nature intend to wipe out the Caribou herself? What would the forest be like without the Caribou? Does the forest really need another ungulate species? Were they meant to go extinct just like the dinosaur or the Dodo?)

Another topic on the management plan program was “Managing Development to Enhance the Park Environment”  Does the park need to develop wildlife these days at the rate it is being lost to unnatural causes?  Indeed, filled potholes and the smell of asphalt were touted as “successes” within the park.  Along with the grand installation of new outhouses!  Jim Pissot representing Defenders of Wildlife was quick to point out that Parks’ only showed 2 topics on their report card that may have earned a B minus.  The wolves, bears, and elk would have likely given Parks and Banff superintendent Van Tighem a failing grade.