PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – British Columbia is getting serious about wolf control.
The province has promised $200,000 to help farmers and ranchers provide predator protection and control, agriculture minister Don McRae told the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association’s annual meeting that was held June 9-11 in Prince George.
The province is also implementing a year-round hunting season in the Caribou region to deal with the wolf problem and an open season for trapping on private land. The leg hold traps must be checked every 24 hours.
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It is also returning responsibility for wolf control from private contractors to the environment ministry’s conservation officer service.
“The idea of paying somebody $1,000 or $1,500 to kill a wolf, the money will disappear very quickly and we will never have enough resources,” McRae said in an interview.
Government ministries are cooperating to control coyotes, bears, large cats and elk.
Conservation officers handled problem wildlife until 15 years ago and welcome the policy change, said Al Lay of the service.
The service will increase hunting and set up local committees of eight to 10 producers each to discuss problems and controls so that incidents can be dealt with sooner.
“It will streamline things and we will get the communication back,” he said.
Wolves are the primary problem for many livestock producers north of Cache Creek, while Vancouver Island contends with bears and the Okanagan struggles with cougars.
Lay hopes the committees can work with the service’s 86 field officers to help evaluate a wolf population that has grown over the years.
“It is difficult to estimate or count wolves like you can elk because they are so mobile,” he said.
The service also hopes to educate people about the danger of wolves.
“As soon as they learn a cow runs slower than an elk, they are going to be there,” Lay said.
It is also developing courses for producers and conservation staff to identify whether an attack came from a bear, coyote or wolf so it can be verified and compensation be paid.
Producers are advised to report problems, take pictures and gather other evidence so that problem wildlife can be dealt with sooner.
There are no specific interprovincial or state agreements.
“If they cross the border and cause a problem, we will deal with them.”
The service also plans to work with trappers, guides, outfitters and hunters to legally remove problem wildlife.
