JOHN RUSTAD – The government has made a choice to kill baby moose and their mothers rather than to reduce and manage predators

The issue of the BC government intentionally targeting cow and calf moose has garnered a lot of attention. Much has been said by both sides of the argument.

Here's a little background regarding why I think it is wrong to be killing these moose in an attempt to help caribou ...

First, in Tweedsmuir Park, caribou populations are declining. Here you have one million hectares of protected landscape with NO industrial activity. No habitat destruction.

A government study undertaken in the late 90s and published in the early 2000’s came to the conclusion that moose moved into the area in the early 1900’s. Predators followed and the caribou have been in decline ever since.

It is the loss of recruitment (survival of juvenile caribou) to wolves and other predators that was the problem.

Next, a study, in the Peace River region, shed some interesting light on how juvenile caribou perform. Scientists took 20 juvenile caribou and moved them to numerous locations to see how they would perform. The study determined that they ate the most, gained the most weight and performed best in cut blocks. Of course, these caribou were protected from predators during the study.

Another study in the Peace River region highlighted the results of predator control.

A significant effort was made to reduce the number of predators over a few years. The results were a healthy increase in the caribou herds. There were also some other efforts to help at the same time.

In conclusion, it is clear that habitat is important but reducing predators is critical in order to start a recovery of caribou.

So, why the alternative prey management by government?

I suspect the reason is also fairly simple. All studies on this topic have been combined with culling wolves and other predators which lead to an increase in caribou.

Killing baby moose and their mothers had NO effect on increasing caribou populations. However, what it did help with is to slow the increase in predators in the area.

In other words, the government has made a choice to kill baby moose and their mothers rather than to reduce and manage predators.

JOHN RUSTAD ... was first elected as the MLA for Nechako Lakes (2005); he previously served as the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation -- Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -- and as Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry.

 

He currently serves as the Official Opposition's critic on Forest, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and was appointed to the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders, and Private Bills.