#algonquin wolves

Picture by Moira Fenner

Thank you for submitting over 2900 comments in support of listing Canada’s rare wolves as a Threatened species! Learn more about why the wolves are unprotected in most of their range

In June, when Ontario’s eastern wolves were renamed Algonquin wolves, their at-risk status deteriorated, changing from Special Concern to Threatened.

As a Threatened species, they were automatically and immediately protected across Ontario.

3 months later, most of that protection was removed.

Overview THE GOOD

Wolves and coyotes are now protected in 4 areas centred around provincial parks.  The…

I’ve written about this previously (and not that long ago…) but this is really, really important. For more detailed information visit my previous post HERE or simply go onto WolvesOntario.org and do your own research.

Our Algonquin Wolves, despite being upped to “Threatened” species status, are not receiving the protection they deserve and frankly, we NEED them to be protected. They are vital to our ecosystem, so please lend your voice to this petition and have your comments heard by Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister McKenna.

Comments are due October 4th – and in case you haven’t glanced at your calendar already… that’s tomorrow.

PETITION > Click Me.

Ontario makes controversial decision to allow rare wolf kill

September 19, 2016 by Source

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Majority of 17,301 public comments opposed to hunting and trapping threatened Algonquin wolves

MONTREAL– Last week, as the hunting and trapping seasons opened, the Ontario government announced its decision to strip at-risk Algonquin wolves of protection from hunters and trappers across the majority of their range. Ongoing hunting and trapping,…

For those of you that may not be up to speed, back in June Canada’s Eastern wolves got a name change and are now known as Algonquin wolves. More important than that however is that their at-risk status deteriorated and they have fallen from Special Concern to Threatened. This is a problem. Wolves are vital to the health and balance of our ecosystems. They don’t just assist in keeping the population of their prey in check, in some cases they have been shown to completely revitalize the entire structure of the systems in which they live. (See: Yellowstone Park).

Despite the evidence supporting the dire importance of our wolves protection, the Ontario government seems to think that they shouldn’t be awarded the same protection as our other endangered species.

This is a huge problem. The first proposal by the Ontario government prohibits wolf trapping and hunting in 3 areas, the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands, Killarney Provincial Parks and Kawartha Highlands Signature Site, which might make you say, “Hey that’s actually a great initiative, good job government!”…but you’d be wrong. Wolf hunting has been banned at those sites for years.  It does not address the fact that wolves migrate, and by not protecting them outside of those sites the species will not have a strong enough fighting chance to repopulate. The second proposal was a regulation change that acts as an exemption for licensed hunters to continue to kill wolves outside the designated zones above. How our government thinks this is okay is laughable at best, if it wasn’t so outrageous. These decisions were announced just yesterday, which just so happens to be the same day hunting and trapping season opened. Our government is not doing enough to protect these valuable, beautiful creatures and we need to be talking more about it. A few summers ago while camping in Algonquin park I was privileged to hear a wild wolf pack howling in the dead of the night. It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had, the thought of it still sends chills down my spine. My hope is that we will be able to hear those sounds for all the years to come.  The good people at wolvesontario.org have all of this information and more on their website. Please take the time to educate yourself on this very serious issue and make your voice heard by filling out the form provided and sending in your concerns to Minister McKenna. Sign up to their newsletter for all updates.