Ontario-Saison de chasse et piégeage du loup modifiée...

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Ontario- La saison de chasse et de piégeage du loup modifiée

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 10th, 2005

Media Release

Province closes season for hunting and trapping wolves
Earthroots says much more is needed to protect the wolf’s future in Ontario


(Toronto) Today Minister of Natural Resources, David Ramsay, announced his
decision to close the season for hunting and trapping wolves and coyotes from
April 1st to September 14th in northern and central Ontario. Earthroots welcomes
the new restrictions on wolf killing as Ontario has long been recognized as one
of the worst jurisdictions in the world for its exploitative wolf management
policies. Until this year, wolves were killed year-round by sport hunters and
trappers. Earthroots is calling today's announcement a good first step but says
much more work still needs to be done to protect wolves and their habitat.



“Earthroots is optimistic that the days of managing the Big Bad Wolf are finally
coming to an end,” says Melissa Tkachyk, Earthroots’ Wolves Ontario!
Coordinator. “Closing the hunting and trapping season when the pups are
vulnerable is an important first step towards improving the conservation of
wolves across the province.”



However, Earthroots contends that few wolves are killed during the spring and
summer as most wolf hunting and trapping occurs during the late fall and winter
when the wolf’s pelt is prime. The environmental group is also concerned that
the Minister has yet to move forward on key aspects of the provincial wolf
conservation policy which he proposed late last year. Aspects of the proposal
that have not yet been implemented include:



Ø Developing and implementing a research and monitoring program to determine
the status of wolf populations in Ontario

Ø Requiring wolf and coyote hunters to purchase a special wolf game seal in
addition to a small game licence

Ø Limiting the number of wolf game seals to two per hunter per year



“It is of great concern that wolves can still be killed in any number whether
for fur, sport or because they are perceived as a nuisance,” said Tkachyk.
“Until hunters and property owners are required to report all wolves killed as
trappers are currently required to do, the government has little knowledge of
the impact these activities are having on wolf populations and the ecosystem
they are a part of."



Wolves are only adequately protected on 3% of their range in the province, while
97% is still open to hunting and trapping. Only a few parks are off limits to
hunters and trappers and large enough to sustain a viable wolf population.
"There is clearly an imbalance between the percentage of the province where
wolves are managed as game and the few protected areas, off-limits to traps and
bullets where wolves can just be wolves," says Tkachyk. “Keeping critical wolf
habitat areas free of exploitation is necessary if we want true wilderness in
Ontario."



Public opinion poll available at www.wolvesontario.org





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For more information contact:

Melissa Tkachyk (Ta-caw-chik), Earthroots’ Wolves Ontario! Coordinator - Tel:
416-599-0152 x12 (office) / 416-819-7424 (cell). For more information, visit
Earthroots' Wolves Ontario! website at: www.wolvesontario.org