Wolf cull program considered again

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In an effort to help sagging deer populations, the province is considering an active wolf and cougar cull across Vancouver Island. This plan could face problems from environmentalists and First Nations such as Nuu-chah-nulth, who hold the wolf in very high regard.

With the Vancouver Island blacktail deer population having plummeted from about 12,000 animals in the late 1970s to only 2,200 today, provincial biologists are concerned.

According to Doug Janz, a wildlife biologist with the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (MWLAP), the sole reason for the decreasing deer population is the increasing number of predators.

According to Janz, 61 per cent of all deer deaths on Vancouver Island are caused by wolves and cougars, with wolves taking the larger share. Bears are also a concern, as they'll often chase a wolf or cougar off their kill, forcing them to hunt down yet another deer.

"There are between 150 and 200 wolves on Vancouver Island and around 400 cougars," said Janz. "These are guestimates, though, as these animals are very hard to inventory," he said, adding that the population of predator species such as wolves, cougars and bears has been increasing on the island while most of the prey species have been decreasing at a similar rate.

"The low deer numbers have put pressure on threatened and endangered species such as Vancouver Island marmots and elk as predators are now going after them more than before," said Janz.

"We've noticed a lower elk recruitment, as fewer calves are making it to adulthood ."

According to Janz, hunting is not a contributing factor in lowered deer populations, as there has been a 47 per cent decrease in hunting over the past few years.

"Overhunting is not a possibility as the past few years have been bucks only, and the buck-doe ratio seems to be remaining even," said Janz. "And with urban/suburban populations and populations in areas such as the Gulf Islands where there are no predators remaining unchanged, all the facts point to wolves and cougars," he said.

The province wants to cull 30 per cent of the wolf and cougar population (45 to 60 wolves; 120 cougars). The government is considering offering contracts worth more than $120,000 over three years to trappers to catch wolves using the controversial leg hold traps.

Though the use of leg hold traps is illegal for a majority of fur- bearing species, larger carnivores such as coyotes and wolves can still be trapped this way.

Janz says Blacktail deer are a priority management species on Vancouver Island because government revenues from resident hunting of Vancouver Island deer was $620,000 in 2000.

Nuu-chah-nulth leaders such as Cliff Atleo Sr. are unconvinced.

"It's a silly idea, and blaming wolves and cougars instead of hunters is ridiculous," said Atleo. "We've had downturns in deer populations before, and Nature has its own balancing mechanisms. These governments have a sad record and are a long ways from proving that they can manage Nature," he said.

It's hard not to notice the increasing wolf and cougar numbers however, as the rising number of cougar attacks are reported almost nightly on the news, and wolves seem to be growing braver, coming right into occupied camping sites in broad daylight.

"Wolves are the physical representation of our chiefs," said Ron Hamilton. "They are the crests of families and are highly valued," he said, listing the number of chiefs who owned groups of wolves as documented on their ceremonial curtains.

"I'm always amazed by the arrogance of mankind in thinking he can manage these things," said Atleo. "The truth is, he can't, and there's nothing they could tell me that would convince me otherwise."