Watch Short GlobalBcTv by reporter Paul Johnson https://globalnews.ca/news/5041645/bc-interior-wildlife-killing-contests/
This Open Letter from 54 (65 April 1) Wildlife Protection Indiv’s and Groups asking BC Govt to End the Bloody Wildlife Killing Contests that are underway at this time! Please read Our Open Letter and then Email ( see addresses below) to your government representatives to STOP THIS UNETHICAL, UNSCIENTIFIC SLAUGHTER OF WILDLIFE! Competitive hunting contests spreading across the USA, we can NOT let it take hold here in BC! Please share this letter and the information on the three current contests/bounty programs… also write letters to your newspapers and post info on soc media.
Help Shut these abhorrent killing contests DOWN forever! Sincerely, Barb Murray, Bears Matter
#EndKillingContests #WolvesMatter #CougarsMatter #CoyotesMatter #RacoonsMatter #wildlifematters
Third Contest/Bounty for Wolves: Taken from the Nelson District Rod and Gun Club Newsletter Februar ’19
“This winter the West Kootenay Outdoorsmen is offering $500 for each West Kootenay wolf hunted or trapped by a club member. After compulsory inspection, contact Richard at 250-352-5609 for your cheque! Note: you get to keep the pelt, which is worth up to $200.” West Kootenay Outdoorsmen
Governmemt Response late Sunday March 10, 2019 before GlobalBCTV airs story at 6pm!
Response: Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development:
* “The Ministry does not condone or encourage these types of events.
* There are currently no rules preventing these types of “contests” providing the hunters are properly licensed and all laws are followed.
* The government last used a bounty on wolves in 1955.
* The province manages wildlife populations on the principle of conservation first, followed by First Nations’ rights. Only then is licensed hunting allowed.
* Wolf populations are healthy and self-sustaining throughout the province.”
Letter w email addresses:
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; ‘ENV ENV:EX Minister’ <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
OPEN LETTER FROM COALITION OF 54 TO BC GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY END THREE ‘WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS’ Dated March 10, 2019
Dear Honourable Minister Donaldson,
We, the undersigned coalition of 54 (65 Updated April 1, 2019) environmental and animal welfare organizations, conservationists and wildlife-based businesses respectfully ask that the government of British Columbia URGENTLY end all current ‘wildlife killing’ contests and modernize regulations to prohibit such ‘contests’ from being held in future.
Our coalition recently learned of three ‘wildlife killing’ contests. The ‘Predator Tournament’ organized by the Creston Valley Rod and Gun Club runs from March 16 to the 24th, 2019 and Chilcotin Gun Store in Williams Lake advertizes the ‘Wolf-Whacking’ contest that began Dec 1, 2018 and runs until March 31, 2019. Also, there is a ‘bounty of $500 being offered to members of The West Kootenay Outdoorsmen for each wolf killed. Club members can keep the pelts which are stated to be worth as much as $200 each. (see attached Ads)
Is it this government’s intention to allow these wildlife killing contests to proceed while most B.C. residents and visitors are sickened by such senseless killing as evidenced by the overwhelming support to ban the grizzly bear trophy hunt and the mounting opposition to B.C.’s wolf culls?
It is outrageous enough that the province sponsors cruel and senseless wolf culls, costing approximately $2M and conducted by sharp shooters out of helicopters, and allows unlimited wolf hunting/trapping under the guise of “saving endangered caribou and bighorn sheep.” But to allow or ignore these ‘bloodlust’ contests’ that rank alongside illegal and barbaric dog and cock fighting, goes beyond the pale.
Our Coalition against ‘Wildlife Killing Contests’ urges the government of British Columbia to immediately put a STOP to these ‘killing contests’ and modernize hunting regulations to make such abhorrent contests illegal in the future.
We look forward to a timely response to our coalition’s concerns as the lives of British Columbia’s wildlife are at stake!
Sincerely,
The Undersigned – 54 Signatories, Updated April 1, 2019 65 Signatories – see below
- Animal Alliance of Canada – Liz White
- Animal Justice – Camille Labchuk
- Animal Protection Party of Canada Liz White
- Animals Advocates Society of B.C. Judy Stone
- Animals Asia – Dr. Jill Robinson
- BC Nature – Dr. Alan Burger
- BC SPCA – Dr. Sara Dubois
- Bears Matter – Barbara Murray
- Born Free Cdn Office Barry Kent MacKay
- Canadians for Furbearers Ainslie Willock
- Clayoquot Action SocietyBonny Glambeck
- Coyote Watch Canada Lesley Sampson
- DeerSafe – Kelly Carson
- Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research USA Jon G. Way
- Evelyn Kirkaldy Artist, Bear Smart Educator
- Exposed with John E. Marriott
- Friends of the Lardeau River Jim Lawrence
- Get Bear Smart Society – Sylvia Dolsen
- Gosia Bryja – Environmental Scientist
- Great Bear Chalet – Jefferson Bray
- Grizzly Girls – Margaret McCullough
- Hope Mountain Black Bear Committee Lydia Koot
- Humane Society International/Canada Julie MacInnes
- International Animal Rescue Alan Knight
- Justice for BC Grizzlies – Val Murray
- Kerulos Centre for Nonviolence Dr. Gay Bradshaw
- Kootenay Reflections Photography Jim Lawrence
- Lifeforce Foundation – Peter Hamilton
- Nature Photography by Martin Ryer
- National Wolfwatcher Coalition USA Nancy Warren
- North Shore Black Bear Society Christine Miller
- Ocean Adventures Charter Co Ltd. Eric & Trish Boyum
- Ocean Light II Adventures Ltd Jenn Broo
- Pacific Rainforest Adventure Tours Inc Ronda and Gary Murdock
- Pacific Wild – Ian McAllister
- Paul C. Paquet – Biologist
- Project Coyote – Camilla Fox
- Reno Sommerhalder – Bear Specialist
- Robert Bateman – Artist
- Ross Peterson – Biologist, retired
- Sierra Club BC – Jen Wieting
- Spirit Bear Lodge – John Czornobaj
- Stephen Williamson Photography
- Susan Musgrove- BC Poet
- The Furbearers – Lesley Fox
- Tourists Against Trophy Hunting Judy Malone
- Valhalla Wilderness Society Anne Sherrod
- Vancouver Humane Society Emily Pickett
- Wayne McCrory – R.P. Bio
- Wilderness Committee Joe Foy/Charlotte Dawe
- Wildlife Defence League Tommy Knowles
- Winton Bear Foundation UK Lesley Winton
- Wolf Awareness Inc – Sadie Parr
- Zoocheck Canada – Julie Woodyer * Signatories below 54 signed on after Mar 10, 2019
- Vicky Husband, Order of Canada, Order of B.C.*
- Arrowsmith Naturalists – Sally Soanes
- Lush Cosmetics Co., – Tricia Stevens
- Ellie Lamb – Artist, Wildlife Guide & Educator,
- Applied Conservation GIS – Baden Cross
- Advocating for Animal Welfare and the Environment – Carol Tracey
- Cochrane Ecological Institute – Lisa Dahlseide Conservation Biologist
- Amber Peters – Biologist
- Stop Animal Brutality- Kelly Ready
- Pacific Yellowfin Tours- Nik Coutinho
- Leadnow Canada – Chloe Lawson/Jolan Bailey
Stop the indiscriminate killing of our wildlife NOW!
This is outrageous. Stop it now!
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