Wolfing is a tough proposition for trappers. A huge amount of work for small monetary gain. In the last 4 years we didn't bother with them. We've watched the Moose and Mountain Goat population decline rapidly. We are centered on a 4 thousand square mile trapline area where no guide outfitter is working or no other trapper is allowed to operate . There are no roads and we have never seen any sign of resident hunters. We've also seen the size of the wolf packs increase dramatically , as we cut their tracks on our trapline trails.
We love to see wolves and occasionally hear them (they are very seldom vocal). BUT we also love to see Moose, Mountain Goats, Grizzlies, Wolverine, Lynx, Beaver and Grouse. A wolf pack takes down a moose about every 4 days.... and they kill for sport .... leaving lots of kills on their way. This is good for the small animals.... but for every one pound of moose meat out there .... there is more than 50 pounds of mice and voles, the feed of most small animals.
In the four years we have been out here we have only harvested one moose and we will never shot a Mountain Goat here.
We feel it is our duty to try to control the growth of the packs of wolves in our area.
We feel we are far more bambi lovers than the average greenie who protests too much or criticize without any hands on knowledge.
These wolves were taken with Marty Senneker power snares on 1/16th cable with break a way devices ..... involves a triggered spring and a toothed camlock. All died within seconds with no evidence of struggling.... guide sticks still up.... no circling.
In a very few years from now we would have almost no moose, goats, and see very few wolf tracks in the snow. The mythology of Mother Nature being perfectly balanced if left alone is hogwash.... she swings like a huge pendulum battering many species into oblivion. example... the west coast salmon stock could easily be wiped out with a rise in ocean temperatures, low breeding salmon stock, unchecked seals, uncontrolled pollock fishing ( imitation crab and for fish burgers.....the pollock fleet throw out the dead salmon they catch by mistake because it would be added to their quota).... and the overfishing by commercial fisherman..Then the Grizzly will either have to adjust or they will disappear.
The Canadian Environment Ministry and their staff including Conservation Officers are the best in the world....bar none.... at managing Canadian wildlife populations. Our system is not like any other in the world.
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