On a recent visit as a tourist to Banff, I read the article by Cathy Ellis (Feb. 5) in which she describes the rationale used by the Alberta government to justify the killing of wolves to save the caribou.
Informative, but my rage began as I read the methodology used to execute the cull. Shooting wolves from helicopters pales (although we can only hope the shooters are accurate) by comparison to poisoning by strychnine.
How would folks react if the family pet displayed rapid breathing and drooling, followed by difficulty walking and muscle stiffness? Seizures begin with extension of the limbs and an arched back. Breathing is impaired due to spasm of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles.
Translation, the animal can’t breathe folks. The dying process may take one to two hours.
We need to ask ourselves, while we are calmly drinking our lattes and reading about such unpleasantness, where is the humanity in such a deplorable procedure? The issue is complex, ya, ya I know, but to allow this type of poisoning to continue is to ignore the terrible suffering these animals endure while we control the environment.
I urge any animal owners out there to get off your backside and do some due diligence to stop the use of poison to kill one animal species under the guise of saving another animal species.
I guess it is the “human way.”
Francesca Hollander,
Roberts Creek, B.C.
