Written by: Cole Stillings
In recent years management of predators has changed drastically from past policies of elimination. There are now programs that are focused on reintroducing predators such as wolves, cougars, and even crocodiles back into their native habitats and ranges. However there are still problems with the current management strategies that are in place. The biggest problems are the lack of education for the public about coexisting with predators and the aftermath of human and animal confrontations.
When dealing with top level predators people need to realize that they have different needs to survive and obviously have a specific diet. With the reintroductions, people need to take it upon themselves to get educated about what they need to do to protect themselves and protect their domesticated animals.
People also need to learn that these predators are not picky on what type of meat that they ingest. It is there main goal in life to survive. If that means that they need to kill and eat a domesticated dog that is not being looked after and is roaming free in the woods then that is what the cougar, wolf, or bear will do so that it can live. In this case the person needs to acknowledge that it wasn’t the fault of the predator it was their own fault that they lost their pet or livestock for letting them roam. If they are truly concerned about losing their domesticated animal then they should bring it indoors where there is no chance of confrontation.
As I already stated the second major problem is the consequences of interactions with predators. In most cases the ending result will be death to the animal. This I believe is not the appropriate response to any encounter. There are many instances where a cougar or wolves may attack a farmer’s livestock. After the attack the farmer then takes it upon himself to kill the predator and eliminate the threat. This is “death penalty” can be avoided. All that has to be done is trap the animal and bring it to a reserve. Threat is eliminated and the animal doesn’t have to be killed merely because it was trying to survive.
Now the death penalty was brought up for a reason. Now yes there are activists that don’t believe in the death penalty or killing animals. But what about the people that will go and kill a wolf because it killed their dog but at the same time say that capital punishment is horrific and should be banned. That’s just hypocritical. My question is why is ok for wildlife? Because they are animals, because they aren’t as intelligent as humans. Well I find that a sad excuse, I’ve dealt with many animals that were more intelligent than some people I know.
Now I know that some people might think that I am an activist from PETA or some other animal rights organization but I’m not. I am an avid hunter and fisherman. I just don’t understand why people believe that they are so much more superior than wildlife that they can be killed off so easily without a second thought for simply trying to survive, which is a harder life than any of us have to deal with. I guess the main point is that people need to learn that the wildlife has the right to live like everybody else does and we shouldn’t be the ones to take it away from them.
1 comment:
I agree with you in the sense that it is not an animals fault for trying to survive, and it is going to eat what it wants in order to do so. On the other hand you cannot blame farmers for what they do if hunting and fishing with intentions of harvest are going to result in the same exact thing. The only thing different is the type of animal in which you do it. A deer on opening morning has the same rights as a wolf eating a cow. Hunters do it to protect their investment and a potential future income. Hunting and fishing is for enjoyment, you could always argue management into the equation but at the same time it is recreation.
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