Wednesday February 13, 2013, 4:47 pm
CANADA :

Why do we allow such barbaric practices like the Wolf Kill Contest in northern British Columbia to happen without making a big, BIG stink over it?

Back in November when I first started reporting on the Fort St. John wolf kill contest, the Vancouver Sun published a series of articles on the contest that were picked up by media across the nation. One of those articles talked about the legality of the contest and noted that the environmental organization, Pacific Wild, had decided to look into whether or not the contest was legal. Days later, the provincial government was still sticking to its guns, claiming that the contest was legal and did not require a gambling permit (or a moral conscience, apparently).

So Pacific Wild, founded by noted Canadian environmental pioneers Ian and Karen McAllister, decided to take matters into their own hands. They sought legal advice. They concluded that the contest is indeed illegal and violates a number of sections of the Criminal Code of Canada. The Liberal government in BC continues to disagree with the opinions of Pacific Wild's legal counsel, so Pacific Wild has decided to up their challenge on the matter and pursue further legal action.

If your blood is still boiling over this and you want to help out, here's what you can do:

1. consider donating to Pacific Wild. In my opinion, they are one of Canada's foremost environmental organizations and I personally donated $250 to them at the start of January to help with this fight and other important battles they are waging at present.

2. you can Take Action on Pacific Wild's website and write a letter to the provincial government departments involved. Pacific Wild has even crafted a sample email, click here to voice your opposition to the illegal wolf kill contest. My only suggestion with this sample email is that you add in a few sentences of your own at the start so the government can't write them all off as 'form letters', which they seem keen to do.

3. 'CC' the NDP in on your email if you do send one: Adrian.Dix.MLA@leg.bc.ca They're most likely going to be the next government in British Columbia, and they have already shown more willingness to work with Pacific Wild on this issue and to develop a true management strategy for wolves in B.C. based on science and responsible wildlife management. If you oppose this wolf kill contest, then be sure to let them know.

I think together we can help put an end to wolf killing practices like this contest, and hopefully start to impact wolf management decisions that lead to the abolishment of wolf trapping using leg-hold traps and snares, as well as wolf hunting with snowmobiles, bait, and calls.

http://pacificwild.org/site/take_action/wolf-action.html

http://blog.wildernessprints.com/2013/02/a-wolf-kill-contest-update-wolf-week.html

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 4:53 pm
PART 2 ...... more broken down actions ......

BC Government Continues to Turn Blind Eye on Illegal Wolf Kill Contest

Lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law, on behalf of Pacific Wild, have informed the BC government that a wolf kill contest, currently underway in northern BC, is in violation of the Criminal Code of Canada.

We have prepared a sample letter, click here to voice your opposition to the illegal wolf kill contest.

Help put an end to illegal wolf kill contest

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"British Columbians should be furious that our government continues to allow wolves to be killed for money, prizes and other illegal lottery schemes when it is clearly against the law to hold a contest of this nature." Ian McAllister-- Conservation Director, Pacific Wild

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On Nov 15, 2012 the Peace Rod and Gun Club, local Fort St. John ReMax realtor Rich Peterson, Raven Oilfield and others announced they were sponsoring a contest with prize money of $1000.00 for the largest wolf killed and $150.00 for the smallest wolf killed with a maximum of three dead wolves per contestant.

On Nov 21st, 2012 after learning of this contest, Pacific Wild formally filed a complaint with BC Gaming expressing concern that this contest was being held without a legal permit citing ethical, legal and wildlife management concerns. On November 23rd, BC Gaming investigator Barry Henetiuk responded that the contest was legal and recommended Pacific Wild seek a further legal opinion.

On Dec 17, lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law, on behalf of Pacific Wild, have informed the BC government that a wolf kill contest, currently underway in northern BC, is in violation of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Today, we ask for your support in shutting down this illegal wolf kill contest.

View the full report with details of the wolf kill contest and how it violates the Criminal Code here.

View Pacific Wild's press release on the issue.

Please write to those listed below to register your voice.

We have prepared a sample letter to make this easy for you.





The Vancouver Sun- sunletters@vancouversun.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hon. Rich Coleman--Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
(the ministry responsible for B.C. gaming)
E-mail: rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca
Tel: (250) 387-5896
Fax: (250) 356-2965
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hon. Terry Lake--Minister of Environment
E-mail: terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca
Phone: 250 387-1187
Fax: 250 387-1356
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hon. Steve Thomson--Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources
Email: Steve.Thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca
Phone: 250-387-6240


Help stop the B.C. Wolf Management Plan!

The deadline for public comment on the draft B.C. wolf management plan was December 5th, 2012. Logging your comments with the elected officials listed below will still have an impact, though. Don't delay!

For those of you that did register your comments before the Dec. 5th deadline, thank you. The Ministry of Environment received 2500 submissions on their website, not counting phone calls, letters and emails to their office

Your voice is making a difference



As it is written, the draft wolf management plan clearly intends: 1.Increased killing of wolves across BC, especially where livestock issues arise.
2.Intensified killing of whole wolf packs under the pretext of saving mountain caribou.
3.Embedding hunter and rancher lobby groups in partnership with BC's Conservation Officer (CO) Service. The government has made severe budget and staff cuts to the CO service, now this is the next step: putting vested interests in control of managing our wildlife.
Please submit your comments to the province and elected officials highlighted below TODAY!

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/public-consultation/grey-wolf/

Our goal is to delay the implementation of the plan to allow for real and meaningful consultation.

Some recommendations you might want to point out:
Not enough time has been allocated to respond to this plan in a meaningful way. Ask the government to extend the Dec 5th deadline to January 30, 2013.
Set aside large areas of the province where wolves are protected from any killing, so that wolves can develop natural packs and behaviour, which will provide benchmarks for scientific research and as areas where people can watch wolves.
NO helicopter killing of wolves.
NO leg hold traps or snares.
By the draft Plan's own admissions, 11 years of killing wolves to save caribou have not increased caribou. These programs have failed and should be stopped.
The government has acknowledged that the chief reason for mountain caribou decline is loss of habitat. A secondary reason is snowmobiling and heli-skiing in winter habitat. To save caribou the government should 1) stop logging old-growth forest in mountain caribou range, 2) ban snowmobiles from winter range (current bans are inadequate and not enforced), and 3) roads built in caribou range need to be obliterated to prevent easy access by predators.
Return to former species license, quotas, bag limits, restricted seasons, and mandatory reporting of kills for hunting wolves.
Continue government programs for compensating ranchers for losses to wild predators.
Fund an adequate Conservation Officer Service. The Conservation Officer Service should not partner with vested interests such as ranchers.
Practice prevention by providing education and incentives to improve protection with fences, guard dogs, shepherds, etc.
This is just a little information to help you with your e-mail , fax or phone calls. It is important to let the ministers listed below and Premier Christy Clark know that you are not in favor of this Wolf Slaughter (management plan) in Super Natural B.C.

Please write to:



Hon. Steve Thomson
Minister of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
102 – 2121 Ethel Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2Z6

steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca

Hon. Terry Lake
BC Minister of Environment
PO Box 9047 STN Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

env.minister@gov.bc.ca


Be sure to cc. your letters to the following elected officials and us at PacificWild.org:

Premier Christy Clark
Tel:250-387-1715
Fax: 250-387-0087
---------------------------------------------------------

Minister Of Environment: Terry Lake
Tel: 250-387-1187
Fax: 250-387-1356
env.minister@gov.bc.ca
----------------------------------------------------------
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources : Steve Thompson
Tel: 250-387-6240
Fax: 250-387-1040
steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca
-----------------------------------------------------------

Minister of Tourism: Pat Bell
Tel: 250-356-2771
Fax: 250-356-3000
e-mail: pat.bell.mla@leg.bc.ca
---------------------------------------------------------

NDP Leader + Environment Critic
rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca, adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca
---------------------------------------------------------

Us at PacificWild.org
info@pacificwild.org

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 5:30 pm
faxed, emailed and shared, thank you Roxy

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 6:25 pm

Call Off The Wolf Guns

SAVE THE WOLVES

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 6:53 pm
this needs to stop, can there be many wolves left? they been getting slaughtered bad up there too...dammit

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 7:03 pm
So awful for these wonderful Wolves to die in such cruel ways. I sent 3 emails. i hope together we can help.

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 7:06 pm
http://pacificwild.org/site/take_action/wolf-action.html

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 7:08 pm
that link i think is easier for the actions ...... hmmmm maybe let me check 4 sure

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 8:27 pm
Roxy will send messages when I get to work today!

Wednesday February 13, 2013, 11:57 pm
Noted and letter sent - this horrendous issue has to come to an end - can't these wolves be caught and put in a sanctuary before they are slaughtered to extinction!

Thursday February 14, 2013, 6:34 am
noted

Thursday February 14, 2013, 6:40 am
noted

Thursday February 14, 2013, 7:19 am
noted

Friday February 15, 2013, 4:45 am
Noted and Tnx Roxy

Friday February 15, 2013, 6:40 am
It just goes to show that you get Bubbas and Bubbettes anywhere you go and you don't have to be south of the border to do it either. It's time to cull the species beginning at the top. There are as many of them there as there are in rural communities. They just dress fancier.

Friday February 15, 2013, 7:17 am
Done.!!
Canada is getting worse by the day, sick bast@##%

Friday February 15, 2013, 8:15 am
Noted , good luck . Thanks .

Friday February 15, 2013, 10:33 am
Noted Roxy

Sunday February 17, 2013, 2:49 am
Send..

Friday February 22, 2013, 6:44 pm
noted - thanks Roxy