In the western province of Alberta, conservation groups says hundreds of wolves are being killed in the western foothills because of private bounties.
The bounties are being funded by hunting and trapping groups, some of which are based in the US, and by some northern municipalities. Bounties range from $15 to $300.
Carolyn Campbell of theconservation group, Alberta Wilderness Association says the bounties represent an old-fashioned and unethical approach to wildlife. She says wolves are an important part of the environment and shouldn’t just be shot on sight and does not address the problem of livestock predation.
This year’s delayed spring has wolves turning to other food sources, including popular big-game targets such as moose and elk, Poirier said. Fish and game members don’t like the competition for their own hunting of elk and moose. They say wolves are a growing threat to big game animals and to livestock.
Former provincial wildlife official Dwight Rodtka says traps set for wolves to reduce killing of game sometimes harms the very animals they are trying to protect.
He said that too often large piles of animal carcasses are heaped in the bush and surrounded by up to 100 snares. Everything that comes by gets snagged.
“They wind up catching all kinds of non-target animals — moose and deer and elk and wild horses and cougars,” he said.
“Eagles have been caught. It’s whatever animal wanders down the game trail.”
Conservation groups say the private bounties are akin to shifting control of wilderness management over to special interest groups.
The Alberta provincial government however feels there are plenty of wolves and doesn’t believe the private bounties are a concern
(mm with files from CP)
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