Public, municipalities urged to rally against MNR changes
Monday, January 14, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF FUR-BEARING ANIMALS
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Ontario wildlife at risk from MNR proposals
ONTARIO - Sweeping changes to the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act could lead to ecological warfare in Ontario communities, the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals (APFA) warns.
The deregulations - named as efficiencies by the government - will remove important questions and processes currently in place to increase safety and prevent accidents, provide alternatives to lethal enforcement in conflict situations and, at times, end needless slaughter of young and at-risk wildlife.
"Municipalities are beginning to look at co-existence models as a way to handle wildlife conflict," explains Adrian Nelson, spokesperson for APFA. "But if the Ministry of Natural Resources successfully removes restraints from the utilization of hunters and trappers, interest in co-existence will drop dramatically."
Currently, municipalities in Ontario require a permit from MNR prior to hiring a hunter to kill wildlife they deem problematic.
Co-existence models are proving successful with various species - coyotes in Niagara Falls and beavers in Cornwall, as examples.
In these models, education, enforcement and non-lethal measures are put in place to ensure a healthy ecosystem and end wildlife conflict.
"The entire community in Niagara Falls really got behind the co-existence plan," says Lesley Sampson, co-founder of Coyote Watch Canada (CWC). "Conflicts and sightings dropped and everyone - from children to seniors - found a new respect for the environment."
Additionally, the harassment and subsequent killing of wildlife including raccoons, foxes, coyotes and wolves will no longer require a permit.
"Anyone with a gun and a hunting license will be able to collect tax dollars for killing animals on municipal property," Nelson adds. "Not only is this a serious ecological problem, but clearly a massive safety issue."
Residents and municipalities across Ontario are being urged to contact both the Ministry of Natural Resources and their local Member of Provincial Parliament to end the proposals before it is too late. Public consultation is being accepted until January 21, 2013.
Statistics relating to hunting accidents, domestic animals being caught in traps as well as images of hunting and trapping are available upon request.
Information regarding the deregulations can be found on the Government of Ontario's website.
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cooper2006 1/14/2013 10:42:06 AM ReportWOW, this story indicates the MNR may actually be moving in a positive direction!
The last time the government listened to a Southern Ontario organization regarding animal control/hunting our communities became inundated with bears...Sorry association for the protection of fur bearing animals...this isn't Niagara and I support local solutions to our issues.
ehbcd2 1/14/2013 11:08:39 AM ReportIf we can drop all the bears off in their back yards maybe I'll listen to them. Also, ask the declining moose population how many of their calves are being taken by the increasing bear population. The amount of cow moose I see without a calf should be of more importance than a couple bears.
Algomasteammaker 1/14/2013 11:22:25 AM ReportCoyote populations are very high in our area and we are seeing the effects on our ecosystem. The numbers of smaller animals that Coyote prey on like hare (aka rabbit) have declined drastically and sightings in populated area's are up...controlled hunting and trapping is needed to regulate the extremely sensitive ecosystem..this does not translate to "extinction".
pistonpopper 1/14/2013 11:23:30 AM ReportThe MNR must have woke up and smelled the coffee
Bad Dawg 1/14/2013 11:26:55 AM Reportthey want the communties to pay for anything the MNR used to do. They say they want to co-exist with animals but we gotta call the cops to shoot bears that could be moved??
I called to see if I could get/rent a small live trap. The guy said I need a trapper licence to trap and later live release on crown land. The other option the mnr gave me was to call an exterminator. For the low price of 180 bucks to trap a coon!!
Was it wrong for me to hire my trapper buddy to come get a raccoon in my backyard?? He gets paid $20 from me and its a live release
I saved $160.
OMGWTF 1/14/2013 12:03:01 PM ReportYeah let's shoot it. That will solve the "problem". Get real.
Wicket 1/14/2013 12:47:51 PM ReportCat traps are available from the Humane Society, they work well to unintentionally trap racoons...
eclectic 1/14/2013 2:47:06 PM ReportI think it's a good move. We are talking about nuisance animals, not every single animal within municipal boundaries like the article implies.
I think that the municipality is in the best position to identify and respond to a nuisance animal; why would we want to maintain/add another unnecessary and expensive step in the process?
There is no serious ecological problem or safety problem.
The argument isn't about the MNR, the ecology, or safety; it sounds like more tree-hugging from a southern Ontario special interest group.
GoulaisMa*Pa 1/14/2013 4:03:27 PM ReportThe MNR have been able to determine after many years of running the Bearwise program, and relocating problem bears, that relocation of bears does not work. The bear that was in the P Patch at Halloween had been relocated a number of times, and still returned, and at a ripe old age became a problem because of the inability to sustain itself anymore. Relocation efforts took bears farther and farther away, and have not been successful because the animals were still able to find their way back. If you cannot successfully relocate the bears, then what?
Cormorant 1/14/2013 8:11:50 PM ReportMaybe the MNR solution is to run a nuisance bear cub with three legs onto the ice and watch it fall through and drown in front of them as they did at Batchawana Bay a few weeks ago. Trapping would be too time consuming. Some professionalism eh?
peeved 1/15/2013 8:48:13 AM ReportReally? another group claiming to protect wildlife that probably doesn't have a single member thats ever left their concrete jungle. This isn't Southern Ontario Dorothy and Toto is lunch around here. Is it going to take a bear to kill one of our children before you get your heads out of your .....
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
