As members of Care2, an international coalition of dedicated environmentalists and concerned citizens representing over 21 million people around the world, we wish to ask for your support in ending the annual wolf-kill contest in the Peace River region of British Columbia, sponsored by thePeace River Rod and Gun Club and Fort St. John realtor, Rich Petersen.
For a $50 entrance fee, participants may enter up to three wolves to win prizes of from $250 up to $1000. Although the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, has determined that the wolf kill contest does not violate any provincial wildlife laws, we believe that the contest is unethical and immoral and speaks ill of British Columbians' relationship to wildlife.
In addition, the practice of indiscriminately killing large carnivores to control their population has not worked. One of the dangers of shooting the wolves is splintering the pack which can lead to more problems such as renegade wolves. The root problem is how we humans are altering the landscape.
In Idaho, there has been a 90% decline in wolf problems by using behavioral conditions such as loud noises to scare the wolves away and reinforce fear of humans. In other areas, a subsidized insurance program protects farmers and ranchers from livestock losses.
Wolves are highly complex, highly social, intelligent and sensitive animals that live in family groups. They deserve our respect and should not be subject to such indiscriminate killing.
We ask for your support in putting an end to this barbaric practice and show the world that Canada and British Columbia are leaders in environmental respect and coexisting with nature.
