Both the bear and wolf populations in Alberta for example ignore provincial and national borders hence directly shooting of grizzlies or wolfs directly affects the genetic diversity. Indirectly we all lose when species are reduced to very low numbers. Each species is part of a complex ecosystem and even if a particluar species does not cross borders, others that are interconncected do so.
Years back the Alberta goverenment compensated farmers and ranchers for each head lost. So much for a cow a horse or a sheep. IIRC the governments stopped or cut back it compensation and this reduction was made up by American enviromentists contributing monies to pay the compensation. I sit on the Alberta Burrowing Owl Recovery Team and the one thing that the ranchers on the committee stress is they do not mind doing their part to perserve wildlife (and Canadian ranchers for the most part are to be highly praised for this do not know enough about the American ranchers but there are some fundamental differences in attitudes and practices both by the ranchers and by their governments) but they should not carry an undo burden. That is what the compensation was all about. If a rancher looses some livestock, he is not at a total finiancial lost and there are bears and wolves left for photographers and naturalist. People like myself living in a city that cannot directly perserve habitat. As a newcomer to the group I do not know anyones personalities or beliefs. Hence if the question of "how does an American farmer .." is questioning why Canadians should say anything about what Americians then I would add that American governments, poolitians, busienss groups, enviromental groups. religious leaders etc have been telling us what we should or should not do all the time. Especially the last ambassador to Canada. Perhaps this is just human nature to think that what your society does is the best and all others should do likewise. Besides the wolves REintroduced in parts of the States never volunterly surrendered their Canadian citizenship :) There is a long and successful record of Canada and the States trading species to reestablish populations where for whatever reason have been extirpated. Wolves and bighorn sheep head south and swift foxes and prairie dogs north. I heard on the news last night that the American governemnt is delisting a species of owls because of its habitat is desired by housing developers. This may be part of the cultural diffence meant in the "We run into this problem regualry with Americans" It is hard for me to understand. The American definition of an endangered species must be "A species that is in danger of becoming extinct AND WHOSE HABITAT IS OF NO INTEREST TO BUSINESS" This definition is offered partly in jest and partly serious. I am not sure if it was my interst in nature that got me serious in photography or my interest in photography that got me more interested in nature but for myself they are intertwined. Ivan in Medicine Hat where we do not have wolves or bears but lots of coyotes (kye utes) -----Original Message----- From: Scott Loveless [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: August 2, 2005 8:09 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: PESO Black Bear On 8/2/05, William Robb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Your legislators are more interested in protecting your farmer's business > interests than anything else. We run into this problem regularly with > Americans. > I think it has less to do with legislation and is more about farmers, who often struggle to make ends meet, protecting what they have left. The few that I have known actually go to great lengths to avoid such situations as they really don't have time to sit in their pastures and fields with a rifle waiting for predators. Other than the possibility of animals crossing the border how does an American farmer protecting his property affect Canadians? -- Scott Loveless http://www.twosixteen.com -- "You have to hold the button down" -Arnold Newman -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.7/60 - Release Date: 28/07/2005
