Wolf Culling In Alberta
Due to recent declines in Caribou populations, the government of Alberta has called for a culling of wolves. In recent years more than 500 wolves have been air hunted and shot, left to suffer in the wilderness. According to the government, effective population control of the wolf, a known caribou predator, will help eliminate continued decreases in caribou populations. The administered solution to the caribou population has been a failure however.
Further studies have shown that the wolves actually hunt deer more often than caribou and have contributed little to the decline in caribou. These wolves essentially balance the food chain in northern Canada and it would be a huge detriment if they were lost. If the wolves were to be killed off, the local deer and caribou populations would skyrocket, and resources from farmlands would be depleted. We must focus our efforts on the habitat destruction of the caribou in order to protect them. Research has shown that high stress levels have been associated with caribou deaths. This is no surprise with the increased oil and gas development in Alberta. In caribou habitats, there have been increased sightings of tar fields. Tar sand require the destruction of forests which provide shelter to the caribou. As the forest shrinks, the caribou are forced into threatening areas where they are more susceptible to hunters, vehicles, and predators. It is clear that wolves have contributed little to the caribou decline. Increased industrial activity, forestry, hunting, and oil drilling have all contributed to the caribou’s endangerment.
The culling of the wolves is both morally and biologically wrong as well as a waste of time.
We must urge the government to stop these scandals to ensure the sustainability of our ecosystem. The wolves are a keystone species in northern Canada and must remain at full strength. The culling of the wolves will ensure no solution to the problem and diverges from
the
Further studies have shown that the wolves actually hunt deer more often than caribou and have contributed little to the decline in caribou. These wolves essentially balance the food chain in northern Canada and it would be a huge detriment if they were lost. If the wolves were to be killed off, the local deer and caribou populations would skyrocket, and resources from farmlands would be depleted. We must focus our efforts on the habitat destruction of the caribou in order to protect them. Research has shown that high stress levels have been associated with caribou deaths. This is no surprise with the increased oil and gas development in Alberta. In caribou habitats, there have been increased sightings of tar fields. Tar sand require the destruction of forests which provide shelter to the caribou. As the forest shrinks, the caribou are forced into threatening areas where they are more susceptible to hunters, vehicles, and predators. It is clear that wolves have contributed little to the caribou decline. Increased industrial activity, forestry, hunting, and oil drilling have all contributed to the caribou’s endangerment.
The culling of the wolves is both morally and biologically wrong as well as a waste of time.
We must urge the government to stop these scandals to ensure the sustainability of our ecosystem. The wolves are a keystone species in northern Canada and must remain at full strength. The culling of the wolves will ensure no solution to the problem and diverges from
the