Originally posted by schrodingers dog
Let's talk issues for a sec. This particular one is high on my personal list. As an animal owner and wildlife admirer I feel very strongly about
the issues that affect those living around us whom have no voice to defend themselves.
Gov. Sarah Palin:
As of today, the contrast could not be more clear: While Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) has been a leader in the Senate to protect marine mammals and exotic
wildlife, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has denied the threats facing polar bears and has led her state's efforts to gun down wolves from airplanes and
helicopters...
Last year, the state offered a $150 bounty as an incentive for pilots and aerial gunners to kill more wolves. And leading up to this week's statewide
vote on Measure 2 to stop the aerial shooting of wolves and bears, Palin's Board of Game spent $400,000 of public money on brochures and radio ads to
influence the election. She not only took an inhumane and unsporting position at odds with the principles of wildlife management and fair chase, but
did it in an undemocratic and underhanded way.
Huff Post
Anchorage daily news
msnbc
Humane Society
AP
If you think that Wolves are cute, cuddly creatures that should never be shot, then you know nothing of Alaska, or the Wilderness in general. As for
Bears, do you know how densely populated they are in Alaska?
I will simply assume you do not know the reality, so I hope you truly take my words with insight and not insult.
For one, I am a huge Animal person. I have had pets my entire life, and I can tell you no one has ever been more upset at the loss of animal life than
I. I also am the type of person that could never hunt nor shoot an animal unless it was for survival, or in absolute self-defense. On the same note
though, I have absolutely nothing against hunters in general. Hunters not only serve a critical function in our society, as they bring food to many of
our tables, but they also serve to keep wild animals from overpopulating. I am all for conservation, but what many conservationists forget is that
humans have been a natural part of the food chain for millions of years. Now we all know that if you completely eliminate or greatly degenerate a
section or element of the food chain, chaos will ensue. So what do you think happens when people are restricted or completely eliminated from hunting
wild animals? Well, it depends on the affected animal.
If the animal is a Herbivore, such as Deer, Elk, and Moose, they overpopulate and begin to cause an increase in: car accidents, negative human
interactions, and cases of starvation as their food supply can quickly become exhausted. If there is not a large enough water source to support their
population jump, they then die of thirst. I know first hand from many hunters/farmers that there is NOTHING worse than watching a starving animal.
Especially bad is when that starving animal is a fawn, or juvenile, and/or their starvation is brought about by the death of their parent due to the
very same thing. In such a situation for instance, if more Bucks (Males) are hunted, and Does (Females) with Fawns left alone (which is a Hunter's
code for all Animals), then you will rarely ever cross such a preventable situation.
Now on the other end of the Spectrum we have Carnivores such as Wolves, Bears, and Mountain Lions. Mountain Lions are rarely of concern since they
live very solitary lives, and cats are (naturally) only inclined to attack fast moving objects (ie, bicycles), or when they are cornered. Wolves and
Bears are a MUCH different story. Bears vary depending on the species. Black Bears attack People for Food, Brown Bears attack for Territory, and Polar
Bears attack People as their Next Meal. Sows (Moms) with Cubs are the same all around however, and they will charge and attack outright with no mercy
(can you blame them?). To generalize however, Bears can naturally be wary of Humans as long as they have experiences which teach them to avoid them.
In some places, such as Campgrounds in UpState NY, they drive "Bumper Cars" around and hit Bears that become too curious, but it does not hurt them,
it only spooks them. The wild thing is, it actually works. The Bears walk around the campground, but they don't overly harass the people, which is a
miracle given the number of naive individuals that try and actually hand them food. Anyways, the lesson is that if you cease any and all hunting of
Boars (Male Bears), then you take away the only form of Human induced fear that they know. As a result, Human attacks increase, as do Home break-ins,
and Vehicle Accidents.
In regards to Wolves, they lose any and all fear of Humans after only one Generation of No Hunting. It is SO bad in Alaska, that in One December
Alone, 165 Pet Dogs were snatched out of City yards in Fairbanks, AK, and consumed. People are being stalked in broad daylight, and Wolves are even
attempting to snatch dogs right off their leashes while being walked. Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK is actually incorporating a new method of
reinstating fear without killing, so that it passes down throughout the Elmendorf Pack. They are luring Wolves in using bait, then opening up on them
with pyrotechnics, rubber bullets, and explosives. So far it has worked. However, Wolves are smart and they will learn. For example, they even know
that Huskies are easy meals, since sled dogs are typically chained down. The scary part is, all Wolves know this, almost as if the instinct has passed
over the entire state. Bottom line, the Wolves need to be hunted, they are running out of control with little concern for human interaction.
There are around 15,000 Wolves Populating Alaska ALONE.
There are OVER 100,000 Bears Populating Alaska, ALONE.
Over 50,000 Brown Bears (Brownies, Grizzlies, Kodiaks),
Over 45,000 Black Bears,
Over 12,000 Polar Bears.
ALL of this, JUST in the Great State of Alaska.
BTW, a distinction should be made between "Hunters", and "Poachers". They are NOT the same.
[edit on 9-5-2008 by TheAgentNineteen]
