Re: Group aims to halt moose calf hunt, Feb. 2

Group aims to halt moose calf hunt, Feb. 2

Dianne Saxe blames the moose decline “on a loss of roadless areas, disease, parasites and hunting as well as climate change.” She does not mention losses due to predators or indigenous hunters. Interestingly, the only moose population in North America that is holding its own and increasing is the population on the wide open prairie, certainly considered atypical moose habitat. The leading theory for this anomaly is the lack of predation, especially on moose calves. Black bears and gray wolves are reluctant to establish populations in the predominantly grassland habitat.

In Ontario, there appears to be a reluctance to acknowledge the impact that predators have on moose populations. In fact, last fall the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry placed a ban on the harvest of wolves and coyotes in a large portion of central Ontario. This will not be helpful to a moose population already in decline.

Kerry Coleman, Oxford Mills, Ont.

Your Sunday editorial entitled “Save the moose” is right on the mark. Why continue to sell moose licences in order to decimate our future breeding stock? The old adage “follow the money” helps answer that question.

Buying a moose licence costs ($55.70) a year. There are 98,000 licensed moose hunters in Ontario. That’s over $5.5 million going into the Ministry of Natural Resources/Government of Ontario’s coffers every year and these fees would dry up if the moose hunt was banned.

Frank Feeley, Fonthill, Ont.

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