Dear Honourable Diana McQueen,

I am writing in to voice my opinion against wolf control programs in the name of caribou recovery where long term habitat protection is not being implemented. Human activity is the number one factor responsible for the declining caribou populations in Canada. We must prevent and limit logging, gas and mineral exploration and extraction, road building, snowmobiling and back country activities that destroy habitat, fragment herds and create snow pack. We cannot blame the wolf for feeding on caribou if humans have made them more susceptible to predators through their activity.

Wolves are an important species in our forests. They are a keystone species, essential in helping to maintain balance and bio diversity within ecosystems. The destruction of wolves is unacceptable and can only result in further disruption of the delicate balance between predators and prey.

I do not support increased wolf harvests, sterilization programs, nor wolf culls. Sacrificing one species to save another demonstrates poor and outdated wildlife management. Caribou populations have continued to decline where predator control programs have begun, indicating habitat protection measures must be stronger and enforced. Culling wolves in an area only acts to open up the territory and other wolves may soon move in and continue to predate on the dwindling herds.

I fully support the recovery of caribou in this province, but would like the efforts to be focused on the restoration and long-term protection of the old growth forests caribou depend on to survive. Preventing activities that disrupt the natural balance is a much more effective and long-term solution to the problem.

I also encourage adding caribou to herds that are at imminent danger of being extirpated. This step should be a priority in recovery efforts, long before the needless killing of natural predators. Please note that culls and shortsighted management techniques that have proven ineffective in the past will not go unnoticed.

Sincerely,

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