Response from Minister on unlimited trapping of furbearing animals
December 20, 2024
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Minister Loewen wrote the following in response to our letter regarding the lifting of trapping quotas for furbearing animals. This letter fails to address any of our concerns for unlimited trapping of sensitive furbearers, and instead focuses on the trapping and bounties on wolves.
The Minister’s response is copied below.
Dear Ruiping Luo:
Thank you for your email to Honourable Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, and me regarding how Alberta manages wildlife. As Minister of Forestry and Parks, I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
As you may know governments, scientists, and stakeholder groups work hard to ensure the delicate balance is kept in our wildlife populations for long term survivability. Apex predators, including wolves, play an important role in the food chain. However, their impact on the survival of other species has to be monitored and managed, especially in regions where certain species, like caribou are in decline. Trapping is one of the most effective methods of predator population control. In Alberta, we regulate trapping to ensure that our methods conform to the highest international standards to prevent cruelty and minimize suffering.
Trapping in Alberta is a highly regulated activity, subject to the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards. These standards have a measurable impact on animal welfare, requiring the use of humane trapping systems and complementary education programs and are a requirement for the harvest of furbearing animals for international markets. To review the standards, please visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-organizations/humane-trapping-standards.html.
The Government of Alberta does not offer bounties on any species. Some private organizations and municipal governments have instituted wolf incentive programs. Harvests resulting from these programs must be within regulatory guidelines and pose no conservation risk to wolf populations. Generally, privately sponsored incentive programs are paid to people already engaged in legal fur harvest, and are designed to meet multiple ecological outcomes, including species recovery of some species.
There is no authority under the Wildlife Act to prevent a private organization or municipality from offering incentive programs for wildlife. To regulate against these programs generally would impact governments’ ability to manage other species like wild boar and problem beavers.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Honourable Todd Loewen
Minister
Forestry and Parks
cc: Honourable Rebecca Schulz
Minister of Environment and Protected Areas