Editor: It’s with great interest that I read the article about the wolves and cougars within the boundaries of Canmore and the problem of the elk and other ungulates that attack them.
So as a populace we are being asked to talk about this at the dinner table or some other family time and let’s not forget the bear spray.
As a diehard observer of human nature I’ve come to the conclusion that a great number of locals are of the liberal left wing, not that this is bad or anything, but it’s just a viewpoint of mine and I don’t wish to butt heads OK?
Now, most libs don’t want to listen to alternative viewpoints and that’s written in stone. It doesn’t matter what the subject is either.
From my understanding, pepper spray is classified as a restricted weapon. But most people can’t use it as intended or don’t carry it where it can be accessed in a nanosecond.
Case in point is where hunters carrying guns are still attacked and killed by bears. This happens regularly, just Google it. We as a society have made the decision that we know what’s best for wildlife and have done lots of detrimental things all in the name of conservation.
The difference between a developer and an activist is that the activist already has his cabin in the wilderness. Part of my point is that the left winger can’t stand the fact that maybe, just maybe, “we” created this false environment for wildlife and that solutions can come from other viewpoints than arming the public with pepper spray and discussion around a campfire.
Let’s face it, Canmore is a false environment, plain and simple. The elk have clued in that they are safe in town. So this leads to predators following. We all see the cute pictures of wolves and whatnot and they tug at heartstrings.
The fact is the wolves and other predators have learned to use those high fences along the highways to herd the elk so they have no way to flee in a natural way. So these so called experts coming up with a solution to keep wildlife off the Number 1 have created a devastating catastrophe for the elk calves.
I understand the mortality rate for newborn ungulates in Banff is around 80 per cent? Correct me if I’m wrong on this, but the grizzlies know when calving season is and show up waiting, even right in town. Completely unsustainable isn’t it?
The fact that one sees lots of elk in town is muted by the fact that maybe this is the entire herd for thousand of square kilometres, forced together knowing that it’s safer to take chances in town? Kind of hard to find an elk anywhere else outside of the immediate area isn’t it?
My point now comes to this, much to the backlash and horror from the lefties.
Anyone who is into an ethical cull in the form of hunting will echo my sentiments here. It seems that people are complacent about animals killed on a roadway and call for more fences and higher traffic fines, but absolutely dead set horrified against hunters.
Let’s not kid ourselves on this. The numbers of predators is increasing without a doubt and we as a society have been complicit in this. Arming the general public with pepper spray is a bandaid solution here.
Last fall in Canmore we had to stay away from the woods due to many grizzlies in the area where I heard there were as many as 17 to 20. Not bad for a so-called endangered species. How many thousands of feral rabbits are in Canmore now? I see coyotes every day in town.
Recently I’ve looked into bowhunting regulations here and found that it’s very convoluted and that the lefties have made it politically unacceptable, not to mention there is outright harassment as well.
Remember, there’s lots of those who impose their will on others and won’t entertain any other viewpoints no matter how it doesn’t affect them. I’m just tossing this in as an alternative here. I know it’s only limited, but it’s at least something else to consider.
Perhaps we need a broadening of a hunt for elk and a cull of predators as such? There is no such thing as nature’s balance here as human intervention has completely destroyed that peach. As one person put it … “all meat comes from Safeway”....
Well, doesn’t it?
Pat Cady,
Canmore
