Timeline for BC Caribou and Wolves.

April 2015 BC Government announces winter death tally, with 84 wolves reportedly shot from helicopters.  Wolf Awareness reminds public this is a 5 year plan and is not over until policies are changed to prohibit predator control programs.

 

January 2015 BC government announces to plan kill up to 184 wolves this winter around the South Selkirk and South Peace Caribou herds.  Wolf Awareness takes a firm position against this.

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2014 BC government releases its Wolf Management plan, systematically legitimizing the killing of wolves for various reasons, including under the guise of Mountain Caribou Recovery.  The release of this plan ignores 66% of public comments made during the 3 week comment period, where people from all backgrounds urged for more humane treatment f wolves.  Wolf Awareness updates the public on what has transpired, and alerts members of Wolf Awareness.  Part of the plan recommends killing wolves wherever caribou herds number less than 50 animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2012 - BC unveils its Draft Wolf Management Plan which receives massive opposition during the short 3 week public comment period.  Unfortunately, these comments go ignored.  The public comment period saw 1,614 comments AGAINST this barbaric plan, and less than one third of this number (558) commented in support of it.  Another 403 comments were deemed as unclear or "not relevant".  The plan is heavy on management but lacking in conservation, ecology, and ethics.  Read the Press Release put out by several concerned ENGOs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010- Between Dec. 2005 and March 2010 $670,420 was spent by BC government on the Quesnel Highland wolf sterilization and removal program.  The goal of the program was to remove the reproductive organs of the dominant breeders and kill subdominant wolves, including pups.  Between 2007-2010 50 wolves were killed on behalf of the government in the Quesnel Highland region, and more were killed through public hunting and trapping (13).

 

Quesnel Highland Wolf Sterilization and Removal Numbers 2001 - 2011

 

          YEAR             NUMBER OF WOLVES KILLED            NUMBER OF WOLVES STERILIZED

2010/11                                                     14                                                                      5

2009/10                                                     14                                                                     4

  2008/09                                                      21                                                                    12

  2007/08                                                     12                                                                      19

 2006/07                                                       2                                                                      1

2005/06                                                      0                                                                      0

 2004/05                                                       0                                                                      0  

 2001 - 2004                                                 30                                                                   16

  TOTALS                                                        93                                                                    57

 

 

An additional $73,740 was spent on caribou inventories in the Quesnel Highland area.  An extra $96,650 was spent on moose inventories as part of the alternated prey reduction strategy,.  Combined, this totals $840,810.  The Quesnel Highland Wolf Project Progress report (Nov. 2005 - March 2010) states that in regards to wolves "it is likely that additional and/or alternate factors were responsible for the low calf survival observed in 2010" (pg 18), and "...appears to indicate that wolf predation is NOT the main or sole cause of low calf recruitment in 2010" (pg 20).  HOWEVER, the budget estimate for 2010/11 is another $107,400 to pay for more wolf removal, sterilization, and caribou inventories( pg 31).  What did the money already spent pay for?

 

• bait stations were set for trapping wolves to collar, sterilize or kill them.  Wolves were sterilized at the Williams Lake Veterinary Hospital before being flown back and released where they were captured.

• GPS collar data used to locate den sites for trapping and for killing pups

• when collaring wolves, sub-dominants were often killed

 

2010 was a warm winter not conducive to trapping wolves.  4 wolves were sterilized, radio-collared and released in the Quesnel highlands,  another 14 were killed.  4 out of the 7 wolves collared dispersed out of the area, likely avoiding the area where they were captured and traumatisation began.  Another 2 of the sterilized wolves died, likely killed by other wolves after losing thier status. (Note: between 2004 - 2007, all dominant sterile wolves were "eliminated"; cause undetermined), leaving a void where viable wolves could move in. 

 

Although the 2010 Quesnel progress report (13) provided evidence that collared and sterile male wolves were leaving the area, and/or being killed and replaced by viable wolves, the report recommends plans to EXPAND the sterilization of wolves to include 2 packs that reside in Wells Grey Provincial Park.

 

2009- Between March 2007 and March 2009, "intensive capture, sterilization and removal (AKA killing) work was accomplished" (13).  During this time. 40 wolves were radio-collared and 34 wolves were killed (13).

 

During the fiscal year of 2008/09, 10 out of 13 targeted wolf packs had been sterilized. (13)

 

Mountain Caribou Project (MCP) member groups make it clear they “have NOT endorsed the killing of wolves” because they have not seen evidence that wolves are significantly threatening small herds and “because identified critical habitat has not been adequately protected for caribou recovery” (9).  “MCP is not supporting a government wolf kill with the information presently available” (9).

 

MCP states its immediate concern is in regard to current hunting and trapping policies which are extremely unregulated.  Random killing of wolves can increase predation pressure on caribou by causing stable packs to splinter, reproduce, spread out, and thus have more wolves in more places.(9).

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​Recommendations for Predator-Prey Management to Benefit the Recovery of Mountain Caribou in British Columbia presented by scientist to MOE.  Included in proposal is a plan to continue to kill and/or sterilize wolves, kill cougars, reduce moose populations and limit white tailed deer from expanding their territory. 

 

Ongoing practices in critical habitat for mountain caribou include mineral exploration and commercial recreational activities such as cat skiing, snowmobiling, glading planning and construction of snow trails.  These practices involve tree clearing and road building.  In other words,  humans are still creating snow pack in caribou territory and leading predators through easy accessability into areas where in the past caribou would have been safe through avoidance.  Previous timber harvesting in and around mountain caribou critical habitat has led to an increased moose and deer population, through changes in vegetation to early stage forests from old growth. BC government is still issuing and authorizing new helicopter recreation tenures within fragile alpine habitats. 

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The Government has failed to INSTITUTE any AREA-BASED CLOSURES to commercial recreational activity, regardless how critical to caribou.

Radio-collaring and monitoring of wolves in the Parsnip area indicates that wolves here spend very little time at elevations used by mountain caribou, and GPS-point clusters give evidence that wolf predation on caribou is low in this region.(5).  The study suggests that even when elevation overlap occurs wolves may still be hunting moose. 

 

2008- As of March 31st, 18 wolves have been radio-collared in Parsnip study area by MOE (5)

In the Winter Carnivore Surveys in the Kootenay's Mountain Caribou Recovery Areas Winter 2007/2008, researchers note that caribou from the South Selkirk and South Purcell herds rarely occupy habitat below 1400 meters (elevation), providing evidence there is little overlap among wolves, cougars, and mountain caribou.

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Investigation by Vancouver Sun reveals BC government killed 24 wolves under the guise of Mountain Caribou recovery this year alone (10)

Predator Management Activities, as reported in the Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan Newsletter, Volume 4 May 2008, include:

• Extensive radio-collaring and tracking of wolves and cougars to learn more and faciliatate killing these predators

• Changes in hunting seasons for wolves and cougars to allow for more predators killed

• Continuation of the wolf reduction program in Quesnel Highlands

• Trapping wolves in Narrow Lake and the South Purcells

• Planning for the removal of 2 wolf packs (families) at den sites in Revelstoke

 

Between 2007-2008 MOE invested $700,000 to pay for (6) (note discrepancy in numbers from Vancouver Sun investigation).

1. 22 wolf packs collared

2. 10 wolves killed in mountain caribou recovery areas within 6 months (Nov. 2007 - May 2008)

3. 6 males and 6 females sterilized (ie. organs altered or removed) in the Quesnel Highlands, totaling 5 packs being sterilized in this region.

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An investigation by the Vancouver Sun obtains Ministry report with figures:  20 wolves killed through snaring and trapping across mountain caribou range, including 2 wolves within range of the South Purcells herd, 5 within Columbia South herd, 2 within Narrow lake area, and 11 within the Quesnel Highlands (10).

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Mountain Caribou Recovery Program Science Team recommended government close areas to snowmobiling, but government opted for “Steward Management Agreements” with snowmobile clubs instead.  These agreements have no “teeth”, and cannot be enforced.

Open letter from the Mountain Caribou Project urging government to fulfil its commitment to: (7)
i) augment smaller herds between 10 - 50 animals (government funding has been secured to construct maternity pens) nor
ii) reach agreements with snowmobile clubs for area closures or restrictions .

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2007 - Government announces goal to restore Mountain Caribou populations to pre-1995 levels (25,000) within 20 years.  Given the lack of adequate habitat and the slow capacity for caribou to reproduce and increase numbers, this goal is unrealistic and puts more pressure on killing predators.

 

Ministry of Environment liberalizes hunting seasons for wolves and cougars over the entire Mountain Caribou range.

 

Forest Investment Accounts contributes more funding to Quesnel Highland Wolf Project for helicopter costs during aerial darting of wolves (4)
Recommendations from this study include:

• Attempt to identify, capture, & sterilize dominant wolf pairs in all 13 wolf packs (within 5 caribou census blocks)

• Eliminate sub-dominant wolves

• Attempt to locate den sites, trap dominants, and kill pups from high threat packs (April-May yearly)

The Government reveals plan to set aside 2.2 million hectares of habitat for mountain caribou protection, HOWEVER only 380,000 hectares of this would be NEW protection, and of that much is only high elevation or previously harvested so of no value for timber harvest (12).  Mid and low elevation forests, full of biodiversity and old growth trees and lichen, do not fall under protection from timber harvest.  Mountain Caribou use ALL elevations and change altitdes with seasons over the period of a year, adjusting to follow and obtain the best food sources, avoid natural predators, avoid insects, and give birth.

 

BC Mountain Caribou Recovery Plan released Oct 16, 2007

  6 plan objectives:

 

1. Protect mountain caribou habitat from logging and roads (good plan)

2. Ensure effectiveness of protected habitat by managing human use (good plan)

3. Manage predator populations where needed (can cause undesired changes to entire ecosystem and ethically wrong, ends do not justify the means)

4. Manage primary prey of caribou predators (ends do not justify the means, especially if habitat continues to be altered to accomodate primary prey and their natural predators)

5. Augment critically low herds (sounds great)

6. Support adaptive management and research

     

 

 Habitat loss is  identified as the number one cause of declining populations, with predators as a proximate cause.

HOWEVER

• There are plans to kill wolves in areas where there will be no change in land use regulations (ie. commercial recreation)

• NOTE mineral exploration has been exempted from meeting scientific rigour where habitat requirements of mountain caribou are considered, which is inconsistent with the BC governments’ commitment.

 

Over an 8 month period 4 wolves are trapped on behalf of MOE in the Quesnel area, 2 of which died (and suffered first!) 

According to the Quesnel Highland Wolf Project Progress Report Aug. 2006 - March 2007(4):

• A mature male wolf was killed by another pack while “trapped”, unable to defend himself or escape (4)  pg 24

• An alpha female of the Sellars Creek pack was “destroyed” after she broke her leg in trap.  She was in heat at the time of capture (4)

2005 - 2007: A collared and sterile male from the Crooked Lake pack (Quesnel Highland Wolf Project) was shot by a hunter Nov. 2006, returning pack to fertile status ($$$) (4)

 

The Mountain Caribou Recovery Project states “Recovery can only be accomplished by protecting, restoring and reconnecting critical mountain caribou habitat, and by establishing enforceable standards for motorized recreation and commercial recreation tenures.  Smaller herds may need to be bolstered with animals transplanted from healthier herds.  Finally, predator management, a very controversial activity, should only occur where adequate habitat is protected and then only with full consideration of all impacts”. (8)

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2005 -Quesnel Highland Wolf Project is reinitiated due to renewed funding by Forest Investment Accounts, specifically through West Fraser Mills(4)

Northern Columbia Mountain ecoregion in southeastern BC radiocollared 19 wolves from 2 packs.(3)

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2003- 2005 - BC government caught wolves in traps and snares in Quesnel Highlands and West Cariboo Mountains, killing 30 wolves and sterilizing 16 in attempt to eliminate all subdominant wolves and sterilize alphas (11).

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2001 - 2004 -Radio-collared wolves were tracked in 20 sampling intervals for a total of 71 days within the study area in the Northern Columbia Mountains had NO CONFIRMED MORTALITIES of mountain caribou by wolves based on tracking sessions (all predations were moose)(3)
 

Government suspended use of Compound 1080 (POISON!), but had previously approved it for a second time in 1983. 

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​2002 - Quesnel Highland Wolf Project initiated.  Wolves collared to assess distribution and identify overlapping territory within mountain caribou habitat.(4)  Wolf population reduced during this time through sterilization, killing and more accurate data on wolf numbers.(4)  The project  then lost funding for 2 years.

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1983-1996 Between 1983 – 1996 Compound 1080  killed 1400 wolves, 1024 coyotes, and many non-target animals including more than 900 bears, eagles, and other scavengers.  These numbers are bare minimums.

 

1980's  -Aerial hunting of wolves for BC wolf kill program in northern rockies (Fort Nelson area) during which more than 798 wolves in Northeastern BC were killed before being stopped by intense public outcry.  The helicopter killing was  stopped in 1985, only to be revived briefly in 1987.  Over four years, about 1,000 wolves were killed to reduce predation of moose, caribou and mountain sheep.

 

REFERENCES:

1. Tony Hamilton, RPBio, MSc. (For.), Large Carnivore Specialist Ecosystems Branch, Ministry of Environment, Personal communication June 7 2009.

2. Chris Ritchie, Ministry of Environment, personal communication February 18, 2010.

3. Stotyn, S., Serrouya, R., and McLellan, B., April 30, 2005.  The Predator Prey Dynamics of wolves and moose in the northern Columbia Mountains: spatial and functional patterns in relation to mountain caribou decline.  Prepared for the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and the British Columbia Forest Science Program

4. Roorda, L., and R. Wright, April 2007.  Quesnel Highland Wolf Project Progress Report August 2006 – March 31, 2007.  Prepared for the Ministry of Environment Wildlife Branch Cariboo Region April 2007.

5. Steenweg, R.W., D.C. Heard, and M.P. Gillingham, April 2009.  Parsnip Caribou Recovery Trial – Report on activities during 2008-2009.  PWFWCP Report No. 332.

6. Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan Newsletter, Volume 4 May 2008.

7. Open Letter from the Mountain Caribou Project, February 11, 2008

8. http://www.wildsight.ca/caribou/caribou_060927.html Accessed 02/12/2006

9. Letter from Mountain Caribou Project to BC Nature March 29, 2010.

10. Wolves Killed to protect caribou.  Land has been promised, but not delivered, to protect habitat of endangered species, Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun, Dec.15, 2008.

11. B.C.’s quiet war on wolves, Mark Hume.  Globe and Mail, Dec. 15, 2008.

12. Wolf Slaughter and Greenwashing, Update on the BC Government’s Mountain Caribou Recovery Plan, Jan. 12, 2009.  Accessed from http://community.netidea.com/wildernesswatch

13. Roorda, L. and R. Wright (2010).  Quesnel Highland Wolf Project Progress Report Nov. 2005-March 2010.