The Exposed Wildlife Conservancy (EWC) has discovered that a province-wide trapping killing contest in Alberta has been launched by the Alberta Trapping Association (ATA) and the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS). Dubbed the “Alberta Ungulate Enhancement Program,” the non-government-sanctioned contest aims to “enhance ungulate populations in the Province of Alberta.” The “Top Wolf Contest” offers prizes of $5,000 for the top wolf killed, with $3,500 for second prize and $2,000 for third prize. The contest also pays a bounty of $250 per wolf with no limits on how many wolves are killed across the province or in any provincial Wildlife Management Unit.
“The Alberta Ungulate Enhancement Program is not based on science, wildlife biology or ethics. It’s just an excuse for trappers to go kill as many wolves as they can this winter, under the false premise that killing wolves enhances ungulate populations, presumably so that hunters have more elk, moose and deer to kill. The argument that trapping is a necessary tool for wildlife management like this is not supported by current science and wildlife killing contests like this are abhorred in modern society,” states Kim Odland, EWC Co-Founder and a member of the Alberta Trapping Association.
“It's essential to highlight that this program is not government-sanctioned, and its actions lack scientific support, despite how it may appear. It primarily serves to justify and cover up the actions of trappers,” says EWC co-founder John E. Marriott, an award-winning conservation photographer based in Canmore, Alberta.
This commercial trapping program is both a wolf bounty and a killing contest. This program, combined with the outdated industrial trapping practices already prevalent in the trapping industry, including the use of killing neck snares, brings to light several questions that must be investigated and answered:
We have recently released a press release to raise the alarm regarding the Alberta Trappers Association wolf trapping contest and bounties in Alberta. Read the press release to get all the information!
Exposed's "Trapped in the Past" Campaign is a dedicated ongoing effort to tackle the critical flaws in Canada's outdated trapping regulations and their devastating effects on wildlife. We are targeting the outdated regulations in the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS), an agreement signed in 1997 and ratified by Canada in 1999 to establish humane trapping methods. Specifically focusing on the forgotten review of the AIHTS by The Canadian Furbearer Management Committee (CFMC) which is over 20 years overdue.
The more funding we obtain, the more we can achieve in updating trapping regulations in Canada. This includes bringing on a specialized lawyer to expedite our efforts and take this issue to an international level. We believe that by making essential changes to these regulations, we can create a ripple effect that will lead to improvements in other crucial areas as well.
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At 11 years old, Wolf 907F, the leader of her pack in Yellowstone, continues to thrive defying the average lifespan of yellowstone wolves, who normally don’t live longer than 4 years. Despite this, she recently gave birth to her 10th litter.
Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 after being eradicated in the 1920s. Today, there are over 100 wolves in the park, but 907F stands out. She’s the sixth wolf to reach age 11 among thousands monitored.
907F leads a pack of about 10 wolves, having inherited her role from her late aunt. This stability has helped her avoid the dangers of dispersing to form a new pack. Her pack once peaked at 35 members, providing safety in numbers against rival wolves.
Despite losing an eye at four, she navigates her territory with remarkable skill. Her experience allows her to guide her pack in hunting and foraging, ensuring she remains a vital leader.
Exposed Co-Founder Wins Prestigious Wildlife Photography Award
John E. Marriott wins the Animal Portraits category with a photo of a family of lynx in the Yukon (pictured here)!
$1,000 Reward Offered for Information on Chilliwack Bear Poaching Case
Reward is being offered for the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for poaching two black bears in British Columbia.
Sincerely,
The Team At Exposed
