WHY? by Ralph Bice (July 1973)

I will likely get told off a few times for writing this article, and perhaps I should wait until I simmer down a bit, but I have been reading some pamphlets, etc., the last couple of weeks, and I feel I should get this off my chest.

Last week I had two phone calls from our local M.P. Stan Darling, all the way from Ottawa. He was on a committee having to do with wild life, and since Stan had spent most of his life piling up commissions on real estate and insurance, he has had no time for hunting and fishing. I hope I was able to help him, even a little. Then when I saw him later, he gave me a copy of Hansard that had the different remarks printed, along with a circular from Wild Life Federation. All made interesting reading.

The bill, which will no doubt pass, means the Federal and Provincial Governments will be able to co-operate more fully in matters pertaining to wild life, especially ducks and migratory birds. Since the bill would effect each province differently, it was interesting to read the remarks of Members from different provinces. Since the Wild Life Federation was represented by my old friend Dick Passmore, I was than a little interested. Because Stan was on C.K.A.R. (radio?) a few days later, but I did not get to hear him. But he did get the biologists to admit that the wolves each would kill in the course of a year, 40 to 50 deer.

Seems like the Federation, and I get their news bulletins every issue, are interested in saving some of the endangered species of wild life that appear headed for extinction. One was the plains or Barren Land Grizzly, and one the Eskimo Curlew. Sort of recall reading some years back of a bear skull being found and the measurements proved it was such a bear. But even then it was thought to be extinct. And of course we never see one of these Curlews. Other birds were mentioned as well as some animals, among them the Sea Otter. This is another animal we never see, in fact a lot of people never even read about them. I can recall stories of these sea going otters many years ago, and the news of their protection and finally signs of recovery made for good reading.

It is very good indeed that there are people who are deeply interested in maintaining these many forms of wild life, but why so much talking about species that many of us never see, when the most important animal of all, the white tailed deer is entirely overlooked. You only have to read hunting reports and talk to hunters to realize that the deer scarcity is getting to the serious point, but no one seems to care. We hear of studies of these animals, but hunters have been asking for help for fifteen years, and the only change that was made was to increase the hunting fees by 100%.

Two weeks ago I was sent a pamphlet that is being distributed at the Park Gates on Highway 60. Makes for interesting reading, only I got a bit riled at some of the statements. One, about seeing Fisher and Marten crossing the road. Even back in the woods, when these animals were plentiful, it was unusual to see one. And that statement I have seen before that no one could hope to see even half Algonquin Park in a lifetime. There are still a few old guides around, even if they are staying home, that would chuckle at that. Lots of us saw at least 90% of the Park. But the one that was the most ridiculous was that deer were entirely new in the Park. Just why such a thing would be put in writing is hard to understand. There were deer, as well as caribou when my grandfather built his camp on Rosebary Lake in 1870, almost a quarter of a century before the Park was established. There is the deer hunt of 1917, and there are many people who can recall driving through the Park after the last war, when many deer could be seen along the road. Algonquin Park, in spite of the misuse it had been getting, is still just about the finest part of Ontario, and there is no need for misleading articles about it.

Going back to the pamphlet issued by Wild Life Federation there is a statement that wolves kill only sick and old deer. Even after all the studies, there are people still using that old, old excuse. We must have a lot of sick deer, for the last couple of winters the wolves wiped out a lot of small yards.

Another one that wolves might help end wars, with such an excuse I could not understand it. Also that people travel miles to hear the wolves howl. I have only heard wolves once the last three years. Guess I will have to get a recorder.

And I will repeat again, for every person who wants to hear wolves howl, or travel on these safaris, there are perhaps forty that would like to see one along the highway.   

 So WHY do we have to read such misleading propaganda when the real facts would have a far better reaction, and even attain better results.