Food for Wildlife
We live on rural acreage and do not make it a habit to feed wildlife as a general rule. The elk and deer visit throughout the year grazing on what pastures we have, and are welcome to do so. We feel it is only fair when so much of their habitat has been lost formerly to uncontrolled industry, and now to uncontrolled recreation, or so it appears.
This winter we’ve had five to nine elk inhabiting the river bottom portion of our property, making themselves known at our hayshed. This has happened two or three times in the 40 years we’ve been here. Elk can be aggressive and destructive, especially if they are hungry, chasing farm animals away from hay and breaking down buildings to get at food resources. We find on these occasions if we feed them something, they mind their manners, content to do what elk do. Once winter subsides somewhat, they leave, so far without exhibiting habituation tendencies or other problems. We’ve been told that many landowners this winter have been prompted to feed not only out of concern, but because of the above reasons as well.
Do we dismiss the situation with a shrug of the shoulders and a “it’s the circle of life thing, sorry, but you have to starve,” or do we take a chance and feed before populations sink so low they are unrecoverable, eg. mountain caribou, grizzly? Catastrophe doesn’t have to be the stimulus — as it so often is — for improving situations.
Mothers and youngsters this past month seemed to have adapted well to their feedings — their gut microbes appearing to be quite happy. Elk and deer manage on large quantities of golf grass which isn’t natural feed either — is that right! Chronic Wasting Disease is a serious issue, with farmed wild animals suffering a higher incidence, but it is also seen in wildlife that have been on open range. Animals left without access to food either die, or are “chronically” wasted from starvation. It’s a gamble either way.
Governments are owners of public lands and manage residing wildlife, it should follow that it becomes their responsibility to oversee and protect essential habitat to ensure adequate forage for those wild animals depending on it. Private citizens neglecting proper feeding, and care of pets and farm animals to the point of starvation, would be charged with a criminal offense.
Our local wildlife are worthy of the same reverence, recognition and respect as the wildlife in “Jumbo.” People shout long and hard about the importance and rights of those animals and the wild areas they need to live in! What is happening right now is sub-standard for such a valuable resource, and needs to be remedied with more than just a band-aid fix.
The personal cost to feed has been substantial, we do it because we feel it is the right thing to do in this circumstance. Just for the record, we are not hunters.
Gordon and Cheryl Olsen
St. Mary Valley residents
Don and Judy Walker
Cranbrook residents
Kimberley: A new wildlife sanctuary
Deer and now elk are a fact of life in Kimberley. We can fight them: a costly endeavour with poor results and negative publicity. Or we could work with them and realize many benefits. The province might see this as a win-win kind of deal and buy into it philosophically and financially. They are the province’s deer, under their control (sort of) and it could be a massive boon to the tax coffers of both Kimberley and the province.
So, Kimberley should apply to the provincial government for special status as a “Deer, ungulate and wildlife sanctuary”. Kimberley could then implement a 3 to 5 phase process. Given many factors, this might be a logical step for the city.
As Phase 1 unfolds, residents may be worried about ungulate numbers rising beyond an acceptable total; they’ll adapt. That concern is easily solved by implementing phases 2 and 3, the progressive introduction of a variety of predator species to maintain the natural balance. Phase 2 (2018) could include 2 breeding pairs each of wolves and coyotes. Phase 3 (2019) could include 2 breeding pairs each of cougars and black bears. Predators and ungulates could all have “provisional protected status” in town.
Residents may want high fences to protect their property and pets. Current height and materials regulations could be adapted to allow 3.3 metre (11 foot) perimeter fencing, including barbed wire and electric fences. Hopefully, provincial grants could help homeowners offset the costs. A committee could study other communities and their response to fence issues. If their report was submitted by January of 2020, council could then discuss it and refer it to other groups for their input over the next few years.
The long-term benefits for the city could be huge! Tourism could go wild. Just look at Banff and Jasper to see how people flock there to see the wildlife. Accommodators might expect a rebirth in spring bookings as does enter their fawning season. And in autumn, as rutting bucks lock antlers in head-to-head mating battles, expect tourism numbers to mount.
Science teachers will no longer need to refer students to ‘the-birds-and-the-bees’, but will increasingly have live demonstrations by ‘the-bucks-and-the does’, right outside classroom windows, a huge win for educators and students alike! In fact, the full life cycle of many animals could be on full display — Wild Kingdom comes to town!
This plan would be a work-in-progress since no studies or statistics exist on its ramifications. But, given the possible benefits, people might embrace it as it gets us even closer to nature. After all, the deer and elk were here first, we’re on their traditional territory. Their mating and birthing are all part of the natural environment. And, bears, wolves, coyotes and cougars will behave as predators do. People will learn from that part of the life cycle too! Some may, however, want to be a bit more protective of their children and pets.
A side benefit to this is appeasing anti-cull groups such as the Wildlife Alliance of Canada Organization (WACO) and the Deer & Ungulate Protection Everywhere Society (DUPES). With the full array of wildlife, these groups could see nature unfold in Kimberley as it happens in the wild. They’d see Kimberley as a showcase and a wonderful biological classroom. If phases 1 to 3 go as expected, phase 4 could be added in 2020, introducing 2 breeding pairs of grizzly bears. (Phase 5, adding a breeding pair of wolverines should probably be ruled out!)
Happy April 1st!
I. Ferrie
Kimberley
Efforts for Wildlife
CONSERVE (verb definition) “…protect something, especially an environmentally or culturally important place or thing from harm or destruction”
In response to Mr. Fulton, respectfully sir, you know nothing about me, or my knowledge of conservation. What have I done for wildlife lately? I have volunteered for many years from a young adult to present day for the SPCA, Stanley Park Nature Conservancy House, Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. and the Fur-Bearer’s Society (the association to ban leg-hold traps)
What else have I done for wildlife lately? Not shoot it.
Michelle McEntee Longstaff
Cranbrook
For the Record
Anyone who was at the Kimberley-Beaver Valley playoff game Wednesday, March 22, and witnessed a security guard being punched in the back of the head, near where Beaver Valley was exiting the ice, please contact 250-489-1370.
