They Shoot Wolves Don't They?

They Shoot Wolves, Don’Äôt They?
Recreational Hunting of Quadra Island Wolves

Three wolves were shot near Granite Bay a few months ago; we have just learned that three more were killed last fall and five to six the previous year. Please take the time to write a letter to the Minister of the Environment, cc: Claire Trevena our MLA requesting that the recreational hunting of wolves and cougars on Quadra Island be banned.

Anyone that takes out a deer-hunting license is allowed to shoot up to three wolves a year. On Quadra Island these kills do not need to be reported. Wolves lead a complex social life. They form groups called ’Äúpacks’Äù, which are typically composed of a dominant mated pair (The Alpha Pair), their offspring, and an assortment of other adults, often with some genetic relationship to the ’Äúfirst family.’Äù The dominant female bears a litter of up to ten pups. If someone kills the one pregnant female in a pack, there is no reproduction for the pack that year.

Wolves are highly social, complex and intelligent. The populations must be large enough that it can perform normal ecological functions. A decline in pack size may have a direct influence on hunting success. Also in May or June while the dominant female bears a litter, it is the rest of the pack that assists in the upbringing, helping to feed the mother and young with prey from the hunt, acting as ’Äúnursemaids, when the mother herself goes hunting, and guarding the area from predators. Therefore a loss in numbers in the pack could impact the survival of the litter.

Elder members of the pack share information about high-quality den sites for rearing families. Poorly selected dens sites may have a negative impact upon reproductive success, which may affect population size over time, pack size, and hunting success. Studies show that wolf populations are not sensitive to prey availability but highly sensitive to human-caused mortality.

On Quadra we have a healthy deer population on the island as well as other food that wolves utilize such as squirrels, mice, spawning salmon, and beaver. Therefore Quadra can support a population of predators. The regulations should err on the side of conservation. The precautionary principle should prevail.

We believe it is inappropriate to permit the hunting or trapping of wolves in the absence of credible scientific information about our local population size and distribution, demographic information, mortality and recruitment rates. In today’Äôs increasingly crowded world, wolves and cougars are valued as a symbol of wilderness, and of ecosystems healthy enough to support large predators. Healthy, thriving wolf populations are an asset. People in regions with these populations are coming to recognize a special responsibility toward these creatures, so too should the Ministry of the Environment.

If you are concerned about this issue, please write to:

Hon. Barry Penner, Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047 Stn Prov Govt
Rm 112, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E2

With a copy to:
Claire Trevena, MLA
908 Island Hwy.
Campbell River, B.C.
V9W 2C3

Or you can send emails to
barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca and claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca

Thanks to Sierra Quadra for information & campaign to save Quadra Island wolves