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THE BULLETIN PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 83, Issue 14 | www.dailybulletin.ca
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Wolf cull; both sides of the science
Attempting to save endangered Mountain Caribou through a wolf cull is a complex, difficult issue C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
The decision by the provincial Ministry of Environment to try to protect the dwindling South Selkirk Mountain Caribou herd by taking out predators — namely wolves — is generating a lot of reaction. The Ktunaxa Nation and Northern Lights Wolf Centre have already responded, the former stating that the intention to shoot wolves from helicopters is a narrow and short term approach, while the latter called it morally indefensible. However, others believe it is the only solution. Bob Jamieson, a wildlife biologist well-known in the East Kootenay, and a member of an ad hoc group of those who have lived and hunted elk in this valley for years, says he is concerned with the situation with predators and ungulates in its totality. He says he certainly understands the opposition to the plan — nobody wants to kill wolves — but does anyone want to lose the caribou either? Jamieson doesn’t buy that the caribou herd is habitat challenged. He says given the amount of
lichen each caribou consumes in a year, he doesn’t believe the 18 or so animals can’t find that forage over the many kilometres of the Salmo Creston higher elevations. “They are not habitat limited,” Jamieson said. “We are losing these animals to predation. Predators kill the old, the weak and the young. That’s the key, the young. Predation has a huge effect on calves.” Jamieson cites a study done in Yellowstone by doctoral student Shannon Barber-Meyer, in which 142 calves were collared. “100 calves died, three of disease and 97 from predators. Those are utterly astounding numbers. “We are collapsing ungulate populations all over the Rocky Mountains. We’ve gone from a predator poor to predator rich environment. We have completely changed the equation that wildlife managers have to deal with. “It’s difficult for people to understand the degree these ungulate populations are collapsing The whole thing is incredibly complex and difficult. The situation is very different from what it used to be and it’s coming home to roost with these mountain caribou.” John Bergenske of Wildsight has posted an interesting blog, along with Joe Scott of Conservation Northwest, on the Wildsight website, in which they offer a reluctant support of the wolf cull. See WOLF, page 5
V. KOPECKY PHOTO
Two students of the Kimberley School of Archery made some noise at the Iron Man competition in Lethridge last week, walking away not with just gold medals but an equipment sponsorship. Jason Dekkers and Jessica Krewenchuk, both 16, beat adult shooters to win gold in the competition, which included a simulated hunting shoot as well as a traditional competitive shoot. Their results were so impressive that the archery company APA will now sponsor them, says coach Vladimir Kopecky, who picked up a bronze at the competition himself. The Kimberley Archery Club holds open shoots on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30 p.m at Marysville School.
Justice Melnick: a storied career Melnick reflects on judicial career TRE VOR CR AWLEY
After a legal career spanning almost 50 years, Justice Tom Melnick is set to retire. If he had his way, he’d already be off the judicial bench and tending to his vegetable garden at his house outside Cranbrook, but there is one last project to wrap up before he, in his own words, fades away “like the mist drifting off into the trees.” Sitting as the only Supreme
Court justice in Cranbrook since 1990, Melnick is all but retired, save for his work as one of three panelists working on a preliminary report to identify any issues with B.C.’s electoral boundaries. Once the report is submitted to the legislature, it’s up to the MLA’s to suggest any amendments before it gets approved and cemented into law. His office, on the second floor of the Cranbrook Law Courts, is situated right behind Supreme Court chambers and overlooks Rotary Park. The hallways, carpeted with red,
Justice Tom Melnik is retiring after almost 50 years.
are lined with portraits of his predecessors, dating back to 1905. Melnick is currently working half-time to wrap up his work with the Electoral Boundaries Commission, but once he’s fully retired, it looks like there won’t be a Supreme Court justice replacement in Cranbrook for the immediate future, he said. “At the present time, no. That was an issue that was up in the air until the end of last summer, early September,” said Melnick. See MELNICK, page 4