Winter is Coming

Tundra's coat is getting thicker & more luxurious. This is the main way a wolf stays warm in the winter.  It starts growing in late August as the sun gets lower in the sky it triggers a hormone to start producing the winter coat. Wolves live in very harsh environments with temperatures getting as low as -50C in BC but even colder in the Arctic where it can reach -65C. So the thick coat is the main defence against this bone chilling cold but what about the nose & paws? They do not have fur.

Wolves have adapted a counter-circulatory circulation system where the warm blood goes to the paws first to keep them warm. Along with the nose & ears. Humans do not possess this system so the blood gets to our fingers & toes last, therefore we are cold in our extremities. This circulation system is one of the many ways in which canis lupus can adequately cope with its harsh environment.

International Wolf Conference

From Oct. 23-24, I attended this conference in Thompson, MB with many of the top wolf biologists in attendance. Many topics were presented but the main value of this conference was meeting & talking privately to the likes of David Mech, Paul Paquet, and Marco Musiani.
Thompson's SpiritWay is working on establishing their city as a Centre of Excellence for the wolf where they can attract researchers to work in northern Manitoba with wolves. They are also hoping to establish themselves as a major ecotourism centre much like Churchill is for polar bears. Dr. Mech was very impressed with Thompson's concern for the wolf which he had not witnessed anywhere else in the world.

Wolf Tracking Expedition

Jan. 23/2011

Travelled on the BC Ferries from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, an overnite trip of 20 hours. Tundra & Meshach did very well staying in the back of the truck for that length of time. I went down every 2-3 hours when allowed by the crew to give them a walk.

On this date in the morning, I did a wolf presentation for some of the crew & 20-25 passengers. I had arranged this with BC Ferries before I boarded. The crew were quite interested in seeing Tundra as were the passengers. One couple, Henny & Vince, were instrumental in arranging another presentation which I will mention in a later post.

Jan. 24/2011

Arrived at the resort around 11AM & on route saw my first moose. Susan, owner of the resort had done some preliminary work for me by indicating areas where the local residents had recently spotted wolves, so I concentrated my search efforts on these 3 areas. I also met Roy & Linda, and developed a very good friendship with them. They were both wolf admirers & allowed me to go out to Linda's deceased parents farm where the wolves frequented.

Took Tundra & Meshach for a walk in the snow. They had about 2-3 feet & the lake was frozen but we kept off of it. Tundra, instinctively spread her paws & her claws gave her quite good traction. She loved walking on top of the snow as Meshach did. They also both plunged their face into the snow, rolled on it & ate the snow. Needless to say, this is their preferred environment.

Jan. 25/2011

Bright sunny day with temp. around -1C. This is prime wolf country. The altitude is 2,400 - 2,800 feet with lots of moose & deer. It is a high plateau with rolling hills & ringed by large mountains on 3 sides but not the east. Walked up MacDonald Lake Rd. & saw cow moose & ther were lots of moose tracks in the snow. Tundra & Meshach were quite interested in the moose but stayed close to me(they were on leashes but did not pull). In the afternoon, on the Owen East Rd. saw cow moose & this year's calf in the bush alongside the road. Was able to get a picture of them. While walking on the road saw fresh wolf scat & Tundra found some frozen, buried wolf scat in the road, which she vigorously scent rolled in. So, we know they are about in this area.

Jan. 26/2011

Cloudy & quite warm today. Unseasonably. Walked 2-3 km up the Macdonald Lk. Rd in the morning & on the way back to the cabin, saw a wolf out on the frozen lake by Paradise Island where they had been spotted. The wolf was standing & when I stopped the truck & took a picture, it promptly laid down on the lake. It was about 100 yds. offshore & was quite content to lay there. It was colored much like Tundra with a lot of grey. It was quite exciting see my first wolf up there in only the third day up there.

Jan. 27/2011

Bright sunny day & Susan had organized a wolf presentation with Tundra at the resort in the afternoon. Word had travelled fast that there was a wolf staying there so about 20-25 local residents came. This included trappers, guide outfitter & a mother & her 3 children. Tundra was well received by all & I was amazed at the incredible interest there was in seeing her since they lived amongst the wolves. Shows you our incredible connection to this animal.

Jan. 28/2011

Bright sunny day but getting colder at -14C. Went up to the farm & saw 4 moose in a 2-3km area. There is lots of prey up here for wolves, along with the deer. The moose & deer enjoy the clear cut areas where they have logged but the moose are spending more time in the woods because the mountain pine beetle has killed many pine trees allowing the sun to penetrate into the forest where they can feed more.

When we were walking on the road back to the farm, we could hear the wolves howling in the distance. Tundra & Meshach listened but did not respond. They were very interested in what was up the hill to the east but there was no movement but you knew they were up there.

Had lovely dinner with Roy, Linda & 3 other guests. They told me of their local wolf stories. Delightful evening.

Jan. 29/2011

Quite cold this morning at -18C. Went for our morning walk up Macdonald Lk. Rd. which is quite icy with the trucks driving on it. On our way back, about 50 yds. up on our left were 2 moose. Tundra & Meshach were quite alert & when the 2 moose came onto the road & ran down the road, well they were off to chase them. I was trying to hold them back with absolutely no success. I was trying desperately not to fall on this very icy road. I had spikes on the bottom of my shoes which was the only thing keeping me vertical. I finally after 100 yds got over to the left & into the snowbank & I got Meshach under control but Tundra was still pulling on the leash real hard. We ran another 100 -150 yds down the road & by this time the moose ran into the bush to the right. Eventually, Tundra stopped pulling & I got my upper body workout, cardio workout & my agility training all in less than 5 minutes. It must have looked really funny seeing this spectacle. Tundra was so enthralled with this chase that I had absolutely no effect upon her. I was very grateful that neither her collar or leash broke because a face to face confrontation with a moose could be very fatal.

Jan. 30/2011

Was -20C last nite & day started off bright & sunny but the clouds did roll in later in the day. Went out the Owen East & saw 2 moose.

Jan. 31/2011

Somewhat warmer this morning. Remember Henny & Vince? Well they organized a presentation on wolves with Tundra at an elementary school in Houston. Did the presentation in the afternoon for 200 students, teachers & 12 sets of parents. They all enjoyed meeting Tundra & I have received many emails from the students & parents thanking me & Tundra for the show. We had a great time & the local newspaper is doing an article on Tundra.

While travelling into Houston saw another wolf on the left side of the road. As usual it was 100 yds. away & when you get up to that spot, it is long gone into the forest. Lots of moose in that particular area & one of the locals told me a few days late they saw a black wolf out on the lake right where I saw this wolf but it was lighter in color. That is 2 wolves I have seen now.

Feb. 1/2011

On our early morning walk before breakfast, we heard wolves howl to the west of us & the pack across the lake to the south, responded for about 3-5 minutes. Tundra & Meshach listened intently & then a most exciting thing occured. Tundra who seldom howls as she is very quiet, let out a howl for 8-10 seconds. It was a very deep howl & after 5 seconds of silence, she howled again for 8-10 seconds. It was so incredible to see her respond to her wild cousins & it showed me the real wolf in her. The pack across the lake responded with some noise but it was not a howl. They must of been thinking, who is this new, strange wolf. It was an incredible moment.

Later in the morning, Linda & Roy phoned to say there was a wolf on the bay just outside their property. I drove the 2km to their place & the wolf was out on the ice heading back towards the resort. I got back into the truck & drove back 1km & saw the wolf out on the ice about 100yds. out. I got a picture & followed it with my binoculars. It was walking back towards the resort & I followed on foot but the wolf kept the 100yds. distance between it & me. It came up the bank, crossed the road & went into the woods where we walk early in the morning. Quite a successful wolf day! But it was not finished. Friends gave me a dead fawn they found on their farm which had apparently starved, so Tundra & Meshach got deer legs.

Feb. 3/2011

Lightly snowing today. Had a beautiful 6km walk up Macdonald Lk. Rd. it was so inspiring to be out in the wilderness all alone & just enjoying its beauty. No wolves today.

Feb. 4/2011

Cloudy today & on our early morning walk we encountered 3 moose but thankfully Tundra & Meshach did not pull. Just enjoyed this beautiful country by hiking in its presence again.

Feb. 5/2011

Got colder again as it dropped to -12C. Had 2 local residents to come & see Tundra again to get pictures. Don & Karen took pictures & marvelled at her beauty. In afternoon, went out to Maureen's farm where she has seen wolves but they do not harm her livestock of sheep, goats, pigs, cows, llamas, as she has many dogs which keep the wolves honest. She says she shows the other farmers & ranchers that she can co-exist with the wolves but many of the local ranchers just shoot the wolves if they see them on or near their property.

Feb. 6/2011

Well it was the day I had to depart. It had been snowing since the previous evening & we were supposed to get 15-20cm. It would have been great fun hiking in this weather because I would have been able to see fresh tracks. I had a great time enjoying this country & its residents. Tundra has left an incredible impression on them & I look forward to going back next year to continue our search.

More anti-wolf actions

February 15, 2010



Hon. Barry Penner
Minister of Environment



Dear Minister:



"The caribou feeds the wolf, but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong"

Inuit Proverb



For many centuries, the wolf, caribou, and Inuit lived in harmony. The caribou provided sustenance to both the wolf and Inuit people. The wolf kept the caribou strong by killing the weak, old, injured and caribou calves, thereby eliminating the weak caribou, reducing disease to the herd and allowing the caribou herd to flourish. The Inuit people who depended on the caribou watched this interaction for centuries and kept it in balance.



What has gone so terribly wrong?



Why has the caribou in BC been so decimated that it ended up on the endangered species list?



Do not look to canis lupus as the problem because the wolf kept the caribou strong for centuries. Michael Bloomington, head of Alberta's Caribou Management Plan from 1978-83 stated, "the wolf is being made to pay the price for what is really the consequence of human activity in the area."



This human activity in BC which has caused the mountain caribou herds to be placed on the endangered species list is:

• Extensive logging of old growth forests which the mountain caribou depend on


• Disruption and fragmentation of the mountain caribou habitat by logging, mining and other resource extraction


• Disruption of the winter mountain caribou environment by heli-skiing and snowmobiling


• Human caused over hunting of the mountain caribou

These human activities cause many more mountain caribou deaths than any predation by wolves.

Your ministry along with all British Columbians must be better stewards of the environment because the environment and the wildlife belong to all British Columbians, not the Ministry of Environment. You are just the Trustee!

Many wolf biologists in their studies have concluded that wildlife managers must carefully and continuously monitor prey populations so that wolf predation is not additive but merely compensatory.

The Ministry's proposed wolf cull is yet another response by the anti-wolf faction in your ministry and the contractors you employ. Stephen F. Wilson's report "Recommendations for Predator-Prey Management to benefit Mountain Caribou Recovery" is an example of the anti-wolf bias.

There is no evidence in his report or the reports of the Mountain Caribou Recovery Team that wolves are heavily preying on mountain caribou calves. Evidence would include conclusive evidence of wolf kills of caribou calves and caribou found in wolf scats.

Wilson relies on the vague statement of Bergerud that wolf predation is considered the major factor limiting the growth of caribou populations in North America.

L. David Mech and Rolf O. Peterson dispute Bergerud's analysis. They state, "while Bergerud's analysis provides evidence that predation by both wolves and bears can be strongly limiting, his claim that wolf predation is generally regulatory is based more on reasoning that on actual evidence." (Mech & Peterson 2003)

Wilson admits in his report that grizzly and black bears are major predators on mountain caribou calves but due to public pressure on conserving grizzly bears and reductions of bear populations would have to be large because it is difficult to identify and remove problem bears. No where in his report does Wilson admit that removing problem wolves would be difficult or against public perception. No he justs recommends removing whole packs!

In fact studies have shown that grizzly and black bears can be a very high source of ungulate calf death (91%) (Ballard 1979 & 81)

Ministry of Environment again recommends further wolf control even though many prominent wolf biologists (Mech, Haber, Theberge) state that wolf control programs do not work. Mech and Peterson (2003) state, "during the 1980's & 1990's there were extensive efforts, primarily through wolf control in Alaska and Yukon, to induce prey populations to increase to a high stable equilibrium, but none was successful."

Wilson states in his report that Mountain Caribou Science Team and MOE biologists consulted in the drafting of the report strongly recommended that wolves targeted for removal should be shot from helicopters.

Are your staff not aware of Section 27(2) of the Wildlife Act (BC) which states, (2) A person commits an offence if the person (a) hunts wildlife from an aircraft?

The Minister does not have the authority to authorize predator control programs by shooting from aircraft including helicopters because this activity is regulated by the Federal Government. Is the Minister aware of the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations?

The Canadian Aviation Security Regulations prohibit any carrying of loaded firearms or shooting from an aircraft. Under subsection 27(1) there is a provision to allow a federal or provincial department or agency that is engaged in wildlife control to have an unloaded firearm on the plane. Transport Canada officials have assured me that no firearms can be loaded on an aircraft nor can any shooting from an aircraft occur.

Can the Minister assure me that no hunting of wolves by ministry staff, or staff contracted by the ministry or any other sanctioned wolf control activities by the ministry, is being conducted or considered from helicopters or any other aircraft?

In the Caribou Progress Report of April 29,2008 it states that there has been extensive radio-collaring of wolves. 22 packs or 70% of wolves between Williams Lake and Revelstoke are now collared. MOE staff in the past have used these radio collars to locate wolf dens and have killed the pups and adult wolves. This is by way of their own admission that I obtained this info. Can the Minister assure me that these radio-collared wolves are being studied for research purposes and not a means for wolf control?

This same report stated that 6 male wolves and 6 female wolves have been sterilized in the Quesnel Highlands. Is this unethical practice of sterilization of wolves continuing? Who is performing this sterilization?

How many wolves have been killed in BC as a direct result of managing the Mountain Caribou Recovery?

There is a fundamental principle of human justice which is equal treatment for all under the law. As a society we have advanced minority rights, women's rights, and rights of oppressed religious groups to have equal treatment under the law. I submit that this same principle applies to how we treat wildlife. Under your ministry care, wolves have always experienced unequal treatment as compared to other species. The MOE has promoted bounties on wolves, poisoning of wolves, and recently harsh wolf culls like the 1980's Muskawa/Kechika wolf slaughter. This harsh, unequal treatment continues under the guise of predator control to augment the mountain caribou herds.

Wolf control is always the default position of the MOE. There has to be a paradigm shift from this thinking to wolf control as the very last measure after extensive research and consultation by a panel of prominent wolf biologists.

I ask the Minister to give canis lupus in BC the treatment it deserves as stated by L. David Mech, "I hope I can help other people to see the wolf for what it is: one more magnificent species, superbly adapted to contend with its harsh environment, and highly deserving of our understanding and acceptance."

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Gary R. Allan, JD

Wolf Tracking

This animal is one of the most elusive animals to locate in the wilderness. Many wolf biologists have spent many years in the wilderness & have seen very few wolves. I have spoken to many loggers, naturalists & woodsmen who have either not seen any or seen very few.

Doug Smith, Yellowstone Wolf Project leader stated, "I worked on wolves for 13 years in Isle Royale National Park, hiking 500 miles each summer & if I saw one wolf it was an accomplishment. Now, Doug works in Yellowstone National Park where wolves are observed on a daily basis by biologists & visitors alike.

Winter is the best season to track wolves because of the snow. Even radio collared wolves are more easily detected in the winter from aircraft then in the summer. The Algonquin wolf study in Ontario found that 80% of their radio telemetry recordings occured in the winter.

Wolf tracks that are observed in the snow by experienced aerial trackers are then relayed to wolf biologists to track on the ground. They are attempting to locate wolf kills, scat, urine marking & scent marking. This will establish their territories as well as data on wolf predation.

Even to the experienced tracker, it is very hard to distinguish between a wolf paw print & a paw print of an Alaskan Malamute. The easiest way to differentiate a wolf trail from a domestic dog is that wolves generally travel in single file & have a definite purpose to where they are going. Domestic dogs tend to wander all around with little purpose to their travel.

The front paw of northern gray wolves measure 4-51/4 inches in length & 3-41/8 inches wide. Wolves lope where the rear paw print lands in the same spot as the front paw print. Dogs are not able to do this.

My Wolf Tracking

In the North Vancouver Island area, I have been tracking wolves for about one year. I am trying to establish a rough inventory of these wolves as MOE has no accurate count & my count will likely be the most accurate.

On the island that I reside on, there used to be a pack of 12 wolves. Some were trapped & executed, puppies were killed so now I am aware of only one wolf on the island. I hike on the beaches & logging roads every day with Meshach & Tundra. We find (they find it first) wolf scat, deer carcasses & urine marking, but I have not seen a wolf on the island. Except for the wolf that visited Meshach & Tundra at the fence on our property.

About 1 year ago late at night, I heard Tundra & Meshach get quite agitated. I went to investigate & on the driveway near our garage stood a black wolf. I could see it quite well with the flashlight & the street light which is very close. The wolf (I could not tell which gender) observed me for 4-5 seconds & then crossed the road & jumped into the bushes.

On our walks on the island, Tundra & Meshach have located wolf scat & in early December 2009, we came upon a freshly killed deer. The rib cage was intact with small remnants of meat on the ribs & the skull was 15 feet away. The deer was probably killed 4-5 days previous. It could have been a cougar who killed it but within a 1KM radius of the deer kill, I observed wolf scat containing deer fur & bones a couple of weeks after locating the deer. It therefore was very likely a wolf kill.

On North Vancouver Island, we have not been as successful. We have spotted wolf scat but no signs of deer kills.

I am in the process of developing a network of individuals who work in the bush to record any sightings of wolves, hearing them howl, discover any wolf scat or deer kills. I will record this on my Excel spreadsheet & then start to develop an inventory & rough territories.

My quest continues!

Tundra & Meshach

For December, January & February we will be conducting our wolf tracking. In March, I will start up the school visits & have a couple in the works. I am also preparing for the summer visitors who come to see Tundra & Meshach. That activity allows me to fund my school visits.

Books & Websites on Wolf Tracking

I am currently reading Yellowstone Wolves, In the Wild by James C. Halfpenny which contains many pictures of the Yellowstone wolves that he tracks. The pictures are beautiful & they are all of wild wolves. Many calendars & other pictures of wolves are captive wolves because it is very unlikely you will see a wild wolf let alone have the time to get a picture of it. Yellowstone is the best place to observe & photograph wolves. It has spawned a very profitable industry in Yellowstone.

Dr. James Halfpenny does tours & workshops on Yellowstone wolves. You can obtain more info on his website, www.tracknature.com

Wolf Quotes

Thru my many readings of books & articles on wolves, I have kept the memorable quotes of wolves. I thought I would share them with you to begin the new year.

"I have learned of wolves whose master trait was wisdom. I have met many a wolf whose overwhelmimg motive was the love of its little ones."
Ernest Thompson Seton

"No one can deceive the eyes of a wolf. They always know."
R. D. Lawrence, Wolf Biologist

"Only a mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of a wolf."
Aldo Leopold

"Wolves are not our brothers; they are not our subordinates, either. They are another nation, caught up just like us in the complex web of time & life."
Henry Beston

"The wolf is neither man's competitor nor his enemy. He is a fellow creature with whom the earth must be shared." L. David Mech, Wolf Biologist

"We have doomed the Wolf not for what it is, but for what we have deliberately & mistakenly perceived it to be.. the mythologized epitome of a savage, ruthless killer.. which is, in reality no more than a reflexed images of ourselves."
Farley Mowat

"Throughout the centuries we have projected on to the wolf the qualities we most despise & fear in ourselves." Barry Lopez

"There are, of course, several things in Ontario that are more dangerous than wolves. For instance, the step-ladder." J.W. Curran, The Canadian Wildlife Almanac 1981

"The caribou feeds the wolf, but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong."
Inuit Proverb

"The wolf is kept fed by its feet." Russian Proverb

"You may feed the wolf as much as you like. He will always glance towards the forest."
Russian Proverb

"For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."
Rudyard Kipling

Tundra & Meshach

They both spent a leisurely holiday season going for long walks and enjoying many treats. Our son, Michael spent the holidays with us & he helped us raise Meshach when he was a very young pup. It was quite a treat to see Meshach remember Michael so well & instantly greet him like a lost member of the pack. Tundra only met Michael when she was three weeks old with barely her eyes open. Tundra, upon seeing the affection Meshach was bestowing on Michael, greeted Michael with the same enthusiasm.

We will begin our school trips in March once the roads are in better shape.

This is a brief newsletter but I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year for 2010 & hopefully we can get some more protection for canis lupus this year.

Don't Pick the Flowers but Killing is OK

In a large Provincial Park of BC, a park ranger observes two people from his vantage point high up on a ridge in the alpine. He observes one person picking the alpine flowers which are in full bloom. The silence of the alpine environment is violently disturbed as the hunter takes down a grizzly bear (during an open hunting season).

The park ranger approaches the park visitor holding the alpine flowers and issues this person a violation ticket under Section 9 of the Park Act. No ticket violation is issued to the hunter.

Section 9 is titled Natural Resources Protected but this section does not apply to wildlife being hunted & trapped in BC Provincial Parks, Recreation Areas or Conservancies. In the Regulations, Division 6, Section 32(1), prohibited activity is defined. A person must not;
a) damage or destroy any natural resources or property in a park, conservancy or recreation area
b) possess any natural resource or property of a park, conservancy or recreation area
c) remove any natural resource or property from a park, conservancy or recreation area.
Subsection (2) exempts wildlife under this regulation.

I agree that flowers & other natural resources should not be damaged, destroyed, possessed or removed from a park, conservancy or recreation area. But how absurd is this law & policy when it does not apply to wildlife?

Most BC residents I have consulted along with politicians are suprised and dismayed that hunting & trapping are allowed in BC Parks, Conservancies & Recreation Areas. Barry Penner, Minister of Environment, states in his Oct. 2/2008 letter to me that these hunting & trapping activities are the result of public consultation thru Land Use Planning processes & subsuquent Park Management Plans.

What this means is the local & regional consultation included submissions from the local rod & gun clubs, hunting groups advocating their right to hunt & trap in the parks in their region. These parks, conservancies, & recreation areas belong to all BC residents & the many visitors outside of BC who visit our parks. These people want to observe wildlife in these protected areas & not see the peace & tranquility of the park violated by hunters & trappers, who are killing the precious wildlife.

These local residents do not have the authority to use this Land Use Planning process to impose their local will upon the majority of BC residents who want these parks protected from hunting & trapping. Canada's National Parks do not allow any hunting & trapping because all Canadians want to protect all natural resources in these parks. The few residents of Banff & Jasper do not dictate to the Federal Government to allow them to hunt or trap in Banff National Park or Jasper National Park. So why can a very small group of BC residents impose their will upon the vast majority of BC residents? Because we let them!

Mr. Penner states that 250 BC Parks are closed to hunting & trapping. I researched the BC Parks website & the BC Hunting & Trapping regulations to see which parks are open to hunting & trapping. The 250 parks that Barry Penner refers to are very small parks, many of which are near large populated areas where there is no wildlife. These parks would include Alice Lake, a popular campground near Squamish & Cultus Lake. It is ridiculous & misleading to promote these parks being closed to hunting & trapping because public safety would be seriously compromised & these parks have not seen any wildlife for decades.

What Barry Penner is hiding is the fact that most large Provincial Parks are open to hunting & trapping. These parks contain most of the wildlife & this list includes Manning Park, Stratchona Park, Wells Gray Park, Tweedsmuir Park & Spatsizi Wilderness Park just to name a few. On my blog, my letter dated Oct. 31, 2008 challenges Barry Penner's misleading statements. Over 90% of Northern BC Provincial Parks, Conservancies & Recreation Areas allow hunting & trapping to occur. The southern half of the province is not any better.

Here are three notable, illogical situations which allow hunting & trapping in these parks.

Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park is sandwiched between Kootenay National Park on the west & Banff National Park on the east. As stated earlier, there is no hunting & trapping in National Parks. But if wildlife moves from these protected federal lands into Mt. Assiniboine Park, they can & are being killed. How absurd is that to have an unprotected area between two protected areas? Wildlife do not understand boundaries of safety & harm. Why would the Provincial Government not ban hunting & trapping in Mt. Assiniboine Privincial Park? This brings up the topic of having larger buffer zones around National Parks to fully protect the wildlife who use their habitat outside the boundaries of National Parks.

Khutzeymateen Park is a grizzly bear sanctuary where they are protected from hunting & trapping. However, hunting is allowed in this park above 1,000 metres. How can this park be a sanctuary when hunters either hike thru the park to reach this altitude of above 1,000 metres or planes & helicopters are flying these hunters in there disturbing the grizzly bears? Not to mention the gun shots which would frighten the grizzly bears. Why can't the Provincial Government state there is no hunting & trapping in Khutzeymateen Park?

Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park contains an Ecological Reserve at Gladys Lake which is in the middle of the park. There is no hunting & trapping allowed in Ecological Reserves but there is hunting & trapping allowed in the rest of the Spatsizi. Again, wildlife do not recognize artificial boundaries.

Many more visitors to our parks, conservancies, recreation areas are using these areas during the Fall, Winter & Spring when hunting & trapping take place. These visitors are under the illusion that they are safe in these parks from these activities and it will be only a matter of time before they are seriously injured or killed from these activities while recreating in our parks.

I think most BC residents are shocked when they find out that hunting & trapping is so extensive in our Provincial Parks, Conservancies & Recreation Areas. These areas should be completely off limits to hunters & trappers so the wildlife have a safe refuge.

Barry Penner, you protect the flowers by legislation & regulation, why not the same protection for wildlife?

I encourage readers to contact Barry Penner, Minister of Environment to pressure him to address this problem & correct it. He can be contacted by email env.minister@gov.bc.ca , fax 250.387.1356 & phone 250.387.1187