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Archive for category: News

You are here: Home / News Archives / News
News, Wildlife Blog

Public Outcry over Trapping of Wolves Exposes BC Wolf Policies

28 environmental groups, tourism businesses and conservationists have sent a letter to the BC Forests Minister, Hon. Katrine Conroy, stating urgent concerns about hunting and trapping of wolves in BC. Minister Conroy, in statements to media, has recognized the need for changes to the regulations, but suggested that they would be done in consultation with the BC Wildlife Federation (a hunter’s group) and the BC Trapping Association. She believed there were no conservation issues with regard to hunting and trapping wolves. Stating that the province’s wildlife belongs to ALL British Columbians, the signers of the letter emphasized that there are serious conservation issues involved, and environmental groups as well as nonconsumptive wildlife tourism interests should be included in future wolf management deliberations. Download the letter here.

 

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February 18, 2021/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/wolf-2878678_hr.jpg 576 576 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2021-02-18 22:35:482021-03-02 12:23:56Public Outcry over Trapping of Wolves Exposes BC Wolf Policies
News, Wildlife Blog

SUBSTITUTING WOLF CULLS FOR HABITAT PROTECTION IS KILLING MOUNTAIN CARIBOU

 

In 2018 Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) declared that BC’s endangered mountain caribou face imminent threat to their recovery under the Species at Risk Act. The Imminent Threat Assessment acknowledged that not enough habitat had been protected to sustain BC’s mountain caribou populations, and that BC’s ongoing wolf cull in the absence of further habitat protection would not protect caribou.

The ECCC assessment meant that the federal government could issue and Order for BC to protect more habitat, but since the report was released in 2018 BC’s southern mountain caribou herds have not received any additional habitat protection. The habitat protected during the 2007 Recovery Plan left a quarter to more than a third of the remaining core habitat unprotected for some herds and included heavily fragmented areas, steep slopes, burns and high alpine areas of almost no value to caribou. Some herds received almost no habitat protection, and all herds have continued to suffer massive habitat loss at the hands of government and industry, leading to continued herd extirpation.

Just three weeks before public meetings input meetings were to be held across BC, a team of ten biologists, including government advisors, released a paper claiming that previous wolf culls had improved caribou populations, and that changes in forest cover had had no effect (Serrouya et al., 2019). Media exploded with claims that saving caribou simply meant killing a lot of wolves. This led to inflammatory misinformation campaigns that dominated some of the public meetings, and was likely instrumental in Forests Minister Doug Donaldson then claiming that the southern mountain caribou herds would receive no further habitat protection.

During the slaughter of 463 wolves, and the ongoing destruction of caribou habitat, a team of six scientists (Harding et al., 2020) have spent over a year re-analyzing the data claiming that wolf killing should take precedence over habitat protection. Their review of the study found that it had serious flaws. The data showed no statistical basis for wolf culls and maternal pens in the conservation of mountain caribou, and no basis for claiming that habitat protection would be ineffective.

Read the July 16th press release here.

Read the full backgrounder here.

The photo above shows 2019 logging at Trout Lake, in habitat of the Central Selkirk herd of the Deep-Snow Mountain Caribou.

July 16, 2020/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Tout-Lk-Logging-VWS-e1594933640490.jpg 561 1200 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2020-07-16 14:23:052021-03-02 12:19:40SUBSTITUTING WOLF CULLS FOR HABITAT PROTECTION IS KILLING MOUNTAIN CARIBOU
News, Wildlife Blog

Proposed Zincton Resort Town Likely To Decimate Grizzly Bears & Other Wildlife

Along the scenic Highway 31A, between New Denver and Silverton, a developer has proposed a luxury resort for skiing and mountain biking, with a capacity for 1,750 guests a day. Gondolas would carry up to 1,500 guests a day onto London and Whitewater Ridges.

The whole area is prime grizzly bear and mountain goat habitat, and is frequently used by many residents of the region for noncommercial recreation…

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June 17, 2020/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DSC6616-F-B-web.jpg 281 540 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2020-06-17 00:14:562021-03-02 12:20:19Proposed Zincton Resort Town Likely To Decimate Grizzly Bears & Other Wildlife
News, Wildlife Blog

The Battle To Stop The Assault On Endangered Mountain Caribou

Thousands of scientists are warning: loss of biodiversity and climate change threaten the future survival of humanity. The disappearance of Mountain Caribou is part of both of these crises. Protecting them is British Columbia’s responsibility…

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June 17, 2020/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/S-Selkirk-bull-Steve-Forrest-lr.jpg 270 360 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2020-06-17 00:00:062020-06-20 12:14:32The Battle To Stop The Assault On Endangered Mountain Caribou
News, Wildlife Blog

Central Selkirk Herd Plunges To 24 Animales While BC Logs Their Habitat

The Central Selkirk caribou are Deep-snow Caribou that range between Nakusp, New Denver and Kaslo. Environment Canada has declared that all the Southern Mountain Caribou are under imminent threat to their recovery and must have immediate action…

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June 16, 2020/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Cowcalves-HR.jpg 307 500 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2020-06-16 22:46:132020-06-20 12:20:57Central Selkirk Herd Plunges To 24 Animales While BC Logs Their Habitat
News, Wildlife Blog

Wild Horses At Risk In Proposed Predator-Prey Reduction In The Chilcotin

Besides killing wolves and cougars to increase west Chilcotin caribou herds, the government also proposes reducing moose, elk, deer and even wild horses. Essentially, these animals would suffer culls because they are wolf and cougar food, and if the predators are exterminated, their primary prey will have to be culled too, to prevent a population explosion and overgrazing of the range. While there are moose, deer and elk in many places across Canada, wild horses are relatively rare.

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June 16, 2020/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Capture-2.jpg 285 464 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2020-06-16 22:39:552020-06-20 13:20:18Wild Horses At Risk In Proposed Predator-Prey Reduction In The Chilcotin
News, Wildlife Blog

Your Input Into Logging Practices In BC Is Needed Right Away

Public review and comment processes for the following forest practices laws are coming to a close. There is just enough time for you to write some comments:

For Crown land logging: the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) — deadine July 15

A government discussion paper and online form are available at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/forestandrangepractices. But it would be better to send a letter to engageFRPA@gov.bc.ca.

2006 logging in the Incomappleux Valley under the FRPA

The old Forest Practices Code was massively weakened in 2004 to produce the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). Now stronger rules are desperately needed to respond to the dual crises of climate change and species loss. These are VWS’s top priorities for amending the FRPA:

  1. End the logging of old-growth forests 250 years or older.
  2. Five-Year Plans with public access to maps showing the location and size of clearcuts should be restored.
  3. Provisions for protecting slope stability and watersheds, such as those in the old Forest Practices Code, should be restored. It used to be illegal for companies to cause landslides, but under the FRPA, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the  Ministry of Environment don’t even investigate landslides.
  4. Consumptive-use watersheds should be a distinct category, identified in the FRPA and in logging plans, and protected under law, not under guidelines. This category should have increased protective measures.
  5. Waste volumes rose substantially under the FRPA while fines for it declined.  This requires stronger regulation.

For more recommendations download VWS’s full submission to government here.

For Private land logging, the Private Managed Forest Land Act (PMFLA) — deadline July 22.

Government background information and online comment form: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/privatemanagedforest/ However, VWS urges you to write a letter instead, because the online form  skirts the major problems with this law and program. You can send letters to government to PMFLProgramReview@gov.bc.ca. VWS calls for three important changes to the PMFL Act:

1. The Private Managed Forest Land Program should be mandatory for all private land logging.
2. The forest practice regulations for the PMLF Program should be strengthened to the level that is required on Crown land.
3. The PMFLA should not provide participants an exemption from restrictions on logging passed by local governments.

For more information download VWS’s full submission to government here.

July 13, 2019/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2404IncmpCC-lr.jpg 318 504 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-07-13 01:10:162020-06-20 13:20:56Your Input Into Logging Practices In BC Is Needed Right Away
News, Wildlife Blog

URGENT!!! Deadline For Public Input On Mountain Caribou Extended To May 31, 2019

Last year the federal Minister of Environment (EC) announced that Mountain Caribou are facing “imminent threat to recovery” because of habitat loss, and said that IMMEDIATE new habitat protection is urgently required. Unfortunately, negotiations between BC, the EC and some First Nations have already taken one whole year. The result is two government-to-government draft agreements: 1) a proposed “Partnership Agreement” between BC, Canada and two First Nations for the management of South Peace herds; and 2) a proposed “Section 11 Agreement” (named for Section 11 of the Species at Risk Act) for all the herds. The government is now seeking public comments on these two draft Agreements.  The draft Partnership Agreement is approved by VWS and other environmental groups.  The draft Section 11 Agreement is opposed by VWS and various other environmental groups. It includes the “Southern Group” (a.k.a. “Deep-snow Caribou”) of the Interior Wetbelt. This draft agreement would put the Deep-snow Caribou in much danger, because it proposes to take two more years of public process just to consider new protection. Meanwhile BC’s unsustainable logging and rampant oil and gas development will be decimating the habitat under consideration. Four herds have been lost since 2014. A well-organized industry misinformation campaign is telling people that saving more habitat for caribou will destroy their jobs and communities. To outweigh these falsehoods, it is going to take every possible person who cares about BC’s wildlife to write a letter to the government. If you care — act now!

See the government documents here. Fill out the government’s online comment form here.   Click here to see VWS’s map showing how much habitat of the Deep-snow Caribou has been logged. Click here for VWS’s full 13-page submission to government. Many people prefer to write a letter rather than use the government’s comment form. Click “more” to see VWS’s key points for letter writing, plus email addresses to ensure your letter is received by government by May 31.

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May 23, 2019/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Grfroerer429-lr-web.jpg 300 432 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-05-23 21:06:482020-06-20 13:22:04URGENT!!! Deadline For Public Input On Mountain Caribou Extended To May 31, 2019
News, Wildlife Blog

Trout Lake Logging Risks Wiping Out Central Selkirk Mountain Caribou Herd

Photo: Jim Lawrence

West Kootenays, Trout Lake —The Central Selkirk caribou herd lost another six animals last year; at 25 animals, it is in high danger of being wiped out. Yet BC Timber Sales (BCTS) is logging some of the herd’s last remaining old-growth forest along Trout Lake in the Lardeau River Valley. “I have been seeing caribou tracks on the edge of the clearcuts,” says Jim Lawrence, President of Friends of the Lardeau River and prominent wildlife photographer. “The two governments’ continued disregard for caribou survival is outrageous and makes a mockery of the Species at Risk Act.”

“This has been happening while the federal and provincial governments have spent a whole year talking about how they are going to protect more caribou habitat,” says Craig Pettitt, a Director of the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS). “Now the BC government says it wants another two years to complete new herd plans.”

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May 23, 2019/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Logging-30k-Trout-Lake-May-3-2019-1200px_DSC5147.jpg 427 640 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-05-23 16:58:342020-06-20 13:22:34Trout Lake Logging Risks Wiping Out Central Selkirk Mountain Caribou Herd
News, Wildlife Blog

Protection Of Old-Growth Forest Crucial To Limiting Climate Change

A recent report has revealed that British Columbia’s greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions is not accounted for in Canada’s emissions reports. Old growth forests contribute tremendously to global climate regulation and carbon sequestration.

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April 12, 2019/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/150620Haddow-Cr.jpg 998 1500 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2019-04-12 16:58:242020-06-20 13:24:40Protection Of Old-Growth Forest Crucial To Limiting Climate Change

Board of Directors

Richard Caniell

Craig Pettitt

Wayne McCrory

Gene Parker

November 15, 2018/by Anne
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png 0 0 Anne https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Anne2018-11-15 14:49:242018-12-27 18:26:07Board of Directors
News, Wildlife Blog

At Long Last: IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS

IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN
to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS

Valhalla Wilderness Society

(See also: Reflections and Gratitude on the End of the Grizzly Bear Hunt, by VWS Chair, bear biologist Wayne McCrory)

The end of 2017 brought the end to all grizzly bear hunting in BC, except for First Nations’ sustenance and ceremonial use. During the election, the new government administration promised the ban for all of BC, but announced post-election that only the Great Bear Rainforest on the coast would have a total ban; the rest of the province would be subject to a grizzly bear “meat hunt”. Forty-five environmental and animal care groups, bear scientists, grizzly bear viewing businesses and artists sent a letter to government and media charging that the meat hunt was a trophy hunt in disguise. Other groups joined in direct consultations with government, and four thousand people sent emails with 78% favouring an end to all hunting of grizzly bears in BC. Finally, on December 18, 2017 the BC Government announced a complete ban, with the exception of First Nations’ sustenance and ceremonial use. This momentous decision is just cause for celebration by all. The government has also committed to implementing the recommendations of the 2017 Auditor General’s (AG’s) report on BC’s grizzly bear management.

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October 7, 2017/by Valhalla Wilderness Society
https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/griz-collage-for-web-3.jpg 410 600 Valhalla Wilderness Society https://www.vws.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo-4-1.png Valhalla Wilderness Society2017-10-07 22:50:532020-02-05 12:37:59At Long Last: IN 2018 GRIZZLY BEARS IN BC WILL AWAKEN to a SPRINGTIME SAFE FROM HUNTERS
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  • Public Outcry over Trapping of Wolves Exposes BC Wolf Policies
  • SUBSTITUTING WOLF CULLS FOR HABITAT PROTECTION IS KILLING MOUNTAIN CARIBOU
  • Proposed Zincton Resort Town Likely To Decimate Grizzly Bears & Other Wildlife
  • The Battle To Stop The Assault On Endangered Mountain Caribou
  • Central Selkirk Herd Plunges To 24 Animales While BC Logs Their Habitat

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