Comment

Comment by Peter Emberley on July 23, 2017 at 4:02pm

At least some people see and understand what is happening to our moose. By the time people realize what is happening, it may take a generation for the moose to come back.

Comment by Boyd Winsor on July 23, 2017 at 12:38pm

This is a response to the recent SOPAC article in the evening telegram about doubling the roadside cull along the TCH.

Moose Under Assault

 

I know that this may be a futile effort but here goes. Since the first 6 moose were introduced and released from Howley in 1904 as a food source for the people of this province, well over 3,000,000 moose have been harvested for food. This makes moose an incredibly valuable resource and an important part of our natural heritage. The money that is generated by hunters investing in securing an animal both for resident and nonresident hunters is a huge revenue generator.

 

SOPAC have once again succeeded in lobbying Govt. to increase the roadside hunt on the Avalon to reduce moose populations along the highway. Moose are driven onto and close to the highways largely because of the new hydro transmission line which runs adjacent to the TCH. The estimate population of 114,000 moose is grossly inflated as everyone and anyone who is engaged in the outdoors can tell you. Misguided bureaucrats & politicians are being successfully persuaded by SOPAC to attack moose just as Greenpeace successfully attacked the seal hunt.

 

Instead of embracing and protecting this magnificent species, we are attacking this species because moose are regarded as a pest by opponents. SOPAC, who have now infiltrated govt. with elected politicians and who are gaining ground are getting unlimited free publicity through the media while the silent majority of people in this province, particularly in rural Newfoundland, are not speaking out. The moose population is now a third of what it was a decade ago thanks in large part to the effective efforts of SOPAC. We are a humble people who take matters on the cheek as it were. 

 

This type of attack on moose is not unique to this island as everywhere globally wildlife is being subjected to increased pressure as a result of the human footprint. Imagine an elephant vehicle collision or a giraffe. New superhighways in Africa are putting tremendous stress on all large animals.  

 

Here is a copy of statistics from BC alone.

An Average Year

Past wildlife vehicle collision records demonstrate that in a typical year in BC it is estimated that:

• 5 people are killed¹
• 450 motorists are injured¹
• $700,000 is spent by the Ministry of Transportation for highway clean-up²
• 6,100 animals are recorded as killed²
• 18,300 animal deaths go unrecorded²

All figures are mathematical averages, obtained from past records of the ¹Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and the ²British Columbia Ministry of Transportation.

No doubt the Government has a responsibility to protect drivers from moose vehicle collisions, but killing or culling moose is not the solution. We need to protect ourselves not from moose but from our driving habits. Education is the key to a solution. Let us embrace our wildlife instead of attacking this noble animal.

Comment by Peter Emberley on May 31, 2017 at 6:34am

I spoke with one of the enforcement officers Monday. He does not agree with that number either. There hasn't been a count done in years. Some one is full of it.

Comment by Boyd Winsor on May 30, 2017 at 6:00pm

Correct me if I am wrong but 114,000 was data that was the result of the last census conducted 20 years ago. Everyone moose hunter can tell you that this is erroneous. In other words, it is bullshit. What I'd like to know is the source of this lie.

Comment by Peter Emberley on May 30, 2017 at 6:18am

We need to put pressure on government to bring back the science on our moose and caribou population. I've heard it said that jaw bone examination was costing $30,000. Seems like very little money for good solid and sound information.

Comment by Peter Emberley on May 30, 2017 at 6:15am

According to whatever is left of the wildlife division, the department is saying there are 114000 moose. Wow nice number.
I have a few questions.

Where did this number come from?

How were they able to confirm this number?

How was the scientific data collected to gain this number?

What are the qualifications and backround of the people that supplied this information?

We're the methods used to collect the information good solid and proven techniques?

Was this number politically motivated to shut the people up like the government has done in other areas?

I'd sure like to know the answers to these questions!

Comment by Peter Emberley on April 13, 2017 at 4:26pm

No shortage of seals.
I'm going to share that one, wow.

Comment by Boyd Winsor on April 13, 2017 at 3:47pm

Comment by Peter Emberley on April 13, 2017 at 3:20pm

Some very good points Boyden.

Comment by Boyd Winsor on April 13, 2017 at 12:01pm

All good questions Peter. It is common knowledge that government has a hidden agenda to drastically reduce moose populations which they have successfully accomplished beyond even their expectations. Public sentiment is very easy to manipulate through propaganda. It isn't difficult to see why moose populations have been decimated. 

While moose populations are only a tiny fraction of what they were even a decade ago, the seal population has exploded to unimaginable numbers. Yesterday, I was on a longliner which we steamed from Harbour Grace to Fermeuse. From Torbay to Cape Spear there were hundreds of thousands of seals both in the water and on the outside ice. Two longliners were into the fat and looked low in the water. To quote John Crosbie, "they don't eat Kentucky Fried Chicken".

The thing is, unlike moose they are out of sight and are totally out of the public eye. You don't hear a whisper though about the fact that at least ten million seals which is a very conservative estimate, eat at least ten million pounds of cod a day. A census which was conducted ten years ago estimated the harp seal population at 8 million. No one knows what it is now. Common sense would suggest that the figure, on cod predation  is closer to 100 million pounds a day. The food fishery in total is only .1% of 1% of the biomass according to DFO scientists which in total is just over a million pounds last year. Seals would eat this amount in a few hours.

Something to think about. Yet, all we hear is DFO nailing some poor bugger for going over on his quota by a few fish. Pathetic! 

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 5
• Next ›
• Page