On Feb. 6, 2014 the front page of The Prince George Citizen carried an article headlined "Province to probe moose death mystery."
The article went on to state "The Provincial government is initiating a study to find out what might be killing thousands of moose at an unsustainable rate.
Regional wildlife biologist Doug Heard was quoted as saying "I don't think hunting caused this, but we are not going to let hunting accentuate it."
He continued with "This is not a catastrophe but we want to get on it before it becomes one."
In April, 2013 The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources announced changes to limited entry hunting in Region 7a and 7b, the areas around Prince George. The number of LEH permits for cow and calf moose were reduced by 90 per cent of 2011 levels and will remain that way until 2016. That's a good start. Now all stakeholders need to push for additional measures to ensure our moose population returns to healthy levels.
Firstly, the open season on moose calves in region 7a and 7b needs to be significantly modified.
Options include reducing the current season from 16 days to perhaps three to five, or preferably, make calf hunting by limited entry only and give a small number of permits. We can't continue to have an open season on moose calves and expect the moose population to increase and stabilize. Furthermore, with an open season, wildlife officials have no way of knowing how many calves are being taken each year.
Secondly, the other side of the predator/prey equation needs to be addressed. While wildlife officials do not think that bears and cougars are serious threats to moose, wolves definitely are. The number of wolves in the areas around Prince George have increased dramatically over the past few years.
Guides, hunters and ranchers are reporting seeing packs of wolves on a regular basis. Wildlife officials know what needs to be done, but politics always gets in the way.
Reducing the wolf population is not popular, especially with city folks and environmental activists.
Perhaps if they saw a video of a pack of wolves taking down a moose calf by hamstringing it and eating it while it's still alive they might have a different view. Politicians and the public need to step up and do what is right to protect our moose population, not what is politically correct.
Lee Bleeker
Prince George
