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

Life and Death in the Chicken House

This time it was a mink. Although renowned as having a penchant for chicken, we’Äôve only ever been cursed with one previous visitation, and that was long ago. In the interim, our chicken house has been unhappily visited by an eagle, several red tailed hawks, three times by cougars, more recently a goshawk, a bear (what a mess!), and maybe a raccoon. Except for one cougar, the chickens always lost.

We often see mink running among the rocks along the beach, and we’Äôve assumed they were so well fed on clams and beach critters that they didn’Äôt favour poultry. Wrong! Although it seems like this was more of a killing spree than a dinner party: dead chickens lying here and there and three mournful survivors huddled in a corner when we arrived on the morning scene. So it goes.

When the cougar hung around and ate chickens and became a frightening nuisance, it died for it’Äôs hunger. We then promised ourselves we would not allow our husbandry to impact the wild animals ’Äì if we aren’Äôt able to contain our livestock (chickens) so they are not an attractive nuisance, then we should live without the luxury of fresh eggs! And we are now again faced with the dilemma of our conscience. But it’Äôs only a little mink, we can trap it and find a new home on some other island.

Or is this a right to life issue? (Never mind the poor helpless chickens?) These are small ponderings in the bigger scheme of things. Animals are killed all the time for various reasons, ’Äòjustifiable’Äô is in the mind of the beneficiary or the stronger. That’Äôs survival of the fittest. Or animal husbandry. Or human domination.

And we are part of the human invasion: where places that were the domain of wild animals are no longer theirs, where we humans want ’Äòsafety and security’Äô from all kinds of pests. It’Äôs kind of about whether we should even be here, oughtn’Äôt we cram our human selves into urban settings and leave the wild places wild for the wild animals? Will we humans leave any wilderness if we have time to ’Äòresource’Äô it before we destroy the planet?

Well, it was only a little mink. We’Äôll fortify the chicken house. We’Äôll give the mink a new home. We’Äôll buy some more chickens from Henry at Blue Jay Lake Farm. And we’Äôll try harder to live in harmony’Ķ but it’Äôs not natural! Just that the eggs are so good.

Climate Change and Human Denial

Climate Change and Human Denial
An Essay in which the author remembers the ’ÄúTurn Around Decade’Äù

Climate Change, Global Warming’Äîthe new media buzz words or should I say, the ’Äúrecycled’Äù buzz words of the 80’Äôs. Those of us old enough will remember the 1980’Äôs, dubbed by geneticist David Suzuki as the ’ÄúTurn Around Decade’Äù or the decade in which we were supposed to put the brakes on the civilization’Äôs industrial juggernaut. By 1990, the big corporations and conservative governments said, ’ÄùLook, we’Äôre still here. You were just crying wolf!’Äù to which Dr. Suzuki replied, ’Äúremember in the parable, in the end the wolf really did come!’Äù

Finally, in the face of overwhelming evidence, some of the worlds most conservative thinkers, corporations, and governments are having to come out of denial about Global Warming. But merely embracing the notion that we humans are adversely affecting our climate and ultimately ourselves, still leaves us a long way from being OK.

Looking back on it, Suzuki was probably wrong. The real turn around decade was probably the 60’Äôs. By 2007, there is just so much wrong with the planet, and so little political will to make any meaningful changes, that outright catastrophe is the only option left. Sadly, if we are able to survive ourselves, much of the biodiversity in the world today will have disappeared. To underscore this notion, In an interview on CBC Radio on January 16th, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute stated that he expected current energy consumption trends to continue, adding that world consumption will be up 85% by 2030 with coal and gas making up most of the increase’Ķso much for Kyoto. Collectively, humanity is not smart enough to self regulate. We are simply not intellectually advanced enough to do what has to be done. We are technological lemmings heading for an abyss.

Ronald Wright, Author of a Short History of Progress stately it perfectly. Essentially, he suggests that we are really unchanged from the primitive hominid that crawled out of the forest 300,000 years ago. We are still primordially tribal, unable move beyond our basic need to accumulate more wealth and security than we need. We are base creatures unable to understand the power, complexity, and consequences of the technology we have developed. Coming to terms with the Global Warming problem will likely be humanity’Äôs ultimate test, after which we either graduate into the future able to control ourselves, or sink back towards our lowly origins in a horribly deprived state.

A Christmas Note

A Merry Christmas from the Keller family at Coast Mountain!

We are warm and snug in our home overlooking the protected shores of Evans Bay on Read Island. The temperature outside is a chilling -12 C and it is snowing but at least there is no wind tonight. There has been snow on the ground for nearly a week. It is winter here in British Columbia.

The summer passed successfully (thanks to all of you) and while we were not always grateful for the never-ending sunny days--you were! From the beginning of our season in May until the 21st of September, the last day of our bears trip, it rained only 6 days. After a brief and colourful Fall, the rains finally did come in late October’Ķ and did it ever rain! By mid November we broke the rainfall record for that month. After 22 days, the deluge finally stopped and we abandoned our plans to build an ark. Just as we were beginning to dry out we were slammed by a frigid, powerful Arctic outflow wind funneling out of Bute Inlet. Within a very short time the wind had gone from calm to storm force. We watched the famous ’ÄúBute’Äù wind or, as the Xwemalhkwu people call it, ’ÄúKwoch’Äù snap mature trees in half, and blew snow about creating blizzard conditions. Temperatures plummeted to well below freezing. The wind tore the roof off the kayak shed’Ķ last seen heading for Oz. A well rooted Douglas fir just behind the house refused to be toppled so ’ÄúKwoch’Äù snapped it in two, sending the top hurtling down onto our outhouse, smashing it to kindling. The ferocious wind sucked the heat out of the house leaving us huddled around the wood stove. But, we’Äôre OK and the house is OK and it was well, quite an exciting show! We are humbled by the power of nature.

It’Äôs hard to believe this is the 20th Christmas letter we’Äôve written since Coast Mountain began many years ago. Since then many of you have returned numerous times and watched our children, Emily and Albert grow up and watched us grow a little older. We are happy to continue sharing this part of the world with you, and honoured that so many keep coming back for more kayaking adventures. Your confidence allows us to improve the lodge, the trip routes and the food more each year. Some of you are darn close to reaching family status!

Both kids are in Victoria: Albert is in his second year studying economic geography, statistics, computer science, international politics, and creative writing’Äîand whitewater paddling whenever he can. Emily is taking a semester off to work as a research assistant for the Centre For Non-timber Resources at Royal Roads University’Äîher first stint as a commuter, steady pay-cheque, evening free person. She indulges in Yoga, the climbing gym, stain glass lessons, and a social life. We are at home on Read Island with the cats and the chickens and an already too long list of things to do.

Our year has been a contrast of joys and sorrows. We’Äôve been touched by the loss of dear friends and challenged to understand the natural dis-order of life. We have ever more gratitude for our good health and this wonderfully abundant part of the world in which to live. We are thankful to many people who make us feel special. We wonder at the horror that humans inflict on one another and are fearful of our collective disregard for the planet that sustains us. But our lives are full and good, if a little stupidly busy. We take some solace in the fact that we are lucky enough to call work not-work and that makes it all play’Ķwhat more could one ask for?

We leave you now with Lannie up stairs working on the computer, entering the year’Äôs addesses on the data base and Ralph is at the kitchen table designing, among other things, a new outhouse.

Best Wishes,

Ralph & Lannie

Coast Mountain Expeditions
Discovery Islands Lodge

Wilderness & Salmon Farms: The BC Aqauculture review

Presentation to:
British Columbia Aquaculture Review Committee

My name is Ralph Keller. I have been a resident of Vancouver Island and Discovery Islands for 53 years and I have been a certified guide for 20 years. I am owner operator of Coast Mountain Expeditions, Coast Mountain lodge on Read Island and Discovery Islands Lodge on Quadra Island I work in partnership with the Xwemalkwu First Nation at Orford river in Bute inlet where together we have pioneered watching Grizzlies from kayaks. My company employs 9 people, seasonally and I am proud to be able to say that I employ first nations people.

I am also representing the Eco-Tourism (sea kayaking) sector of the Discovery Islands.

We are opposed to the expansion of the fish farming industry in BC, especially in the Discovery Islands and Broughton Archipelago. Let me also say that we would like to see some existing sites relocated or eliminated. We also believe that we have reached a saturation point for shellfish aquaculture in and around the Discovery Islands, which includes Quadra and Cortes and Read Islands

Here are my reasons:

I am not an expert on the biological/environmental impacts of the fish farming industry. I would like to say however, from a lay persons perspective, that intensive aquaculture is similar in it’Äôs impact on the environment to that of land based intensive agriculture. The pollution of rivers, lakes, and ground water by chemical pesticides, herbicides, anti-biotics, and animal fecal matter by the land based agriculture industry is known, as is the loss of biological diversity. These same problems, while less visible, are prevalent in aquaculture as well.

Intensive aquaculture creates breeding hot spots for disease and parasites. While farm fish enjoy the benefits of treatment, passing schools of related wild fish do not. This isn’Äôt rocket science, any parent of school age children will tell you that schools breed disease and that disease is spread out of the schools and into the greater population. Enough said. I’Äôm sure you get my point.

While we acknowledge the success of modern agriculture in producing cheap abundant food, we seldom consider the cost: the virtual extinction of nearly 3 million prairie bison or the loss of virtually all natural prairie ecosystems in North America’Äîto say nothing of introduced genetically modified plants

DFO’Äôs endorsement of the finfish aquaculture industry appears to be a prelude to that body accepting the demise--even extinction of natural salmon species in our streams and rivers, and ocean waters. As though to say, if we can not have both, we will settle for self regulated private sector aquaculture instead of the more troublesome wild fishery.

Most recently, The fish farm near Church House, Bute inlet shot a Grizzly bear’Äîfurther underscoring the premise that Finfish aquaculture is not compatible with our natural ecosystems. The 60-80 Grizzlies left in Bute Inlet are at barely sustainable levels and are a corner stone of the Xwemalhkwu First Nations people to regain cultural and economic footing in the modern world. These bears are protected and the loss of a single grizzly by human hands is a serious event.

It is a sad reality that I will not be able to convince you to protect these islands and waterways for esthetic reasons. Protecting natural beauty and natural ecosystems for their own sake is not a consideration for governments which care primarily about economics.

So, I will stick to making a case for the economics of the Tourism industry’Äîthe largest single industry in the Discovery Islands.

Vancouver Island is the most visited non-tropical island in the world. Vancouver Island, in particular the islands of the Georgia Basin have become Canada’Äôs ’ÄúRivera’Äù . There is a tourism industry here has been founded on based on the natural beauty and warm climate of the region. This well established industry employs thousands and generates millions in revenue each year. It is an industry that forces local governments to consider carefully what they do to the local environment. It is and industry that attracts people and business to a region because it a pleasant and beautiful environment in which to work, live and retire. In these days of e-business people choose carefully where they live and quality of life: a.k.a. quality of natural environment often tops the list.

It would be fair to say that the tourism industry or the ’Äúquality of life industry’Äù ’Äúrescued’Äù the Campbell River economy when the forest sector went into decline some years ago. The Quadra Island economy never felt the forest sector decline and is reflected in high property values and low unemployment. One need only look at our more northerly communities to see the difference.

As the quality and quantity of wilderness disappears world wide, in accordance with laws of supply and demand what little remains goes up in value. These islands have become an international wilderness tourism destination second to none and have a very high economic value.

The BC government continues to believe that it can industrialize our forested view sheds with clear cuts and industrialize our waterways and channels with aquaculture without hurting the tourism sector. I’Äôm here to tell you that the BC government is wrong. The very high quality wilderness environment we have been selling at a high price to people around the world in danger. We can not continue to sustain increased levels of foreshore industrialization. The Discovery Islands is an international wilderness destination with mostly first class scenery, wonderful first nations culture, and rare wildlife viewing possibilities. Orca viewing, Grizzly bears, seals, sea lions, dolphins and porpoises to name a few. Campbell River may in fact have inadvertently and quietly become the Grizzly bear watching capital of the world. Campbell River and the adjoining islands are poised to become BC’Äôs next Tofino or Whistler but its view sheds, and marine trials’Äîits channels need to be protected.

I am asking you on behalf of the regions tourism sector not allow increased aquaculture of any kind in the Discovery Islands and Broughton group and to remove some contentious and inappropriately located farms. In particular the fish farm in the Okisollo channel near the Octopus Islands provincial park whose generator and blaring rock music can be heard far and wide in an area which sees thousands of commercial, recreational sea kayaking and yachting activity.

Marine Harvest broke agreement with the Xwemalhkwu first nation and the Discovery Islands Chamber of commerce when it put Atlantic salmon into the farm instead of previously agreed upon Chinook. Not to mention shooting Grizzly bears.

This appears to be an industry which cannot be trusted to honor its agreements or to steward out natural ecosystems in which they are located.

I would ask you please to halt the introduction of any further internalization of our foreshore by aquaculture..

Vancouver Island: A Sea Kayaking Paradise!

Vancouver Island: Leading the way in Kayak Touring!

When we think of international sea kayaking destinations, Vancouver Island tops the list. More multi-day kayak touring is done here than any other place in the world. And it’Äôs easy to see why: Vancouver Island’Äôs shores are dotted with literally thousands of islands, from tiny unnamed islets with barely a few trees, to small continents like Quadra, an island more than 100 square kilometres in size containing 3 major ecosections within its land mass.

Vancouver Islands's tightly clustered offshore islands offer paddling which is safe from the wind and stormy seas of exposed areas, and between them are narrow channels that create environments rich in terrestrial and intertidal life. The Broken Group, the Bunsby Islands, the Deer Group, the Whaler Islets, Clayoquot Sound, Desolation Sound, the Broughton Archipelago, the Discovery Islands, and the Southern Gulf Islands of the Georgia Basin, all provide fascinating and safe sea kayaking with a wide range of climates, geography, and ecosystems.

But Vancouver Island also has wilder sides! The west coast contains dozens of miles of remote, exposed sandy beaches, surf-exploding reefs, and inhospitable shorelines impossible for any craft to approach. This has earned our west coast the ominous title, Graveyard of the Pacific.

The inland sea between coastal British Columbia and Vancouver Island’Äôs east side provides access to numerous deep Fjords which cut sharply into the British Columbia’Äòs Coast Mountains, the formidable north-south range containing Canada’Äôs highest peaks. The Fjordlands are dramatic inland waterways, channels carved up to 100 kilometres into the BC interior, and into some of the wildest most remote places left on earth. Intense anabatic and catabatic winds, and the presence of grizzly bears, cougar and wolves reserves these places for the most adventurous of kayakers.

Whatever your threshold for a kayak adventure, Vancouver Island contains a lifetime of paddling opportunities!

Sea Kayaking Quadra Island

Raven Bay: Regional Park or Log Dump?

Raven Bay: Regional Park or Log Dump?
The British Columbia Ministry of Forests quashes a modest proposal for a small Regional Park

Just a few hundred meters south of Surge Narrows passage on central Quadra Island, a protected bay harbors one of the few sandy beaches for miles around. This little gem is a natural haven for recreational users and is strategically located almost adjacent to Surge Narrows Marine Park. Raven Bay is a picturesque campsite and also offers the only perfect stop-over for paddlers waiting for slack tide and opportunity to go through the tidal passage. The increase in recreational and commercial sea kayakers has led to an over-use of Freedom Point, only other identified campsite in the area.

Surge Narrows is a dramatic and interesting marine park for sea kayaking; the tidal rapids create rich nutrient for abundant intertidal marine life, and other animals. It also offers relatively safe, challenging moving water: an opportunity for sea kayakers to practice advanced skills in predictable conditions.

The tidal rapids are also a playground for beginner and intermediate whitewater paddlers -- with advanced whitewater available at the Okisollo rapids 5 km up the channel.

Six months ago a multitude of users (in government terms, ’ÄúStakeholders’Äù) proposed making Raven Bay a Regional Park. It was all set to happen, with support from many groups including the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddlers Society, British Columbia Whitewater Kayakers Association, Quadra Island Trails Committee, Quadra Island Chamber of Commerce, Sea Kayak guides Alliance of BC, and a half dozen commercial kayak tour operators -- in addition to dozens of individuals, teachers, and recreational kayakers... The proposal was modest: protect 5 acres surrounding the beach (and leave the other 1,000 acres or so to the forest industry). For the sum of $1, Ministry of Lands offered the Raven Bay area to the Regional District for Park purposes.

We were elated.

But the district manager of the local British Columbia Ministry of Forests intervened, blocking this popular (and sensible) park proposal. In British Columbia, the forest industry gets Veto power over nearly everything and despite the growing (and sustainable) economic clout of recreational and commercial tourism, the forest sector seems to have got its way again.

While local groups continue the fight to protect Raven Bay, the outlook is not promising. Please watch for our updates on this situation. We will need one more round of support when the Woodlot plans are submitted, sometime soon...