In BC we are able to protect ourselves and our livestock from any predator, be it wolf, cougar, black bear, grizzly, coyote or any other pain in the backside nature delivers. We have an open season on wolves, anyone can shoot 3 per year, coyotes, no bag limit, cougar, 2, black bear, 2, and grizzly, 1, limited entry only. Previous to 2003, our major cattle losses to wildlife were to wolves, in 1999 a neighbor of mine lost 38 calves to wolves alone. Starting in 2003, the grizzly population has exploded in most areas of rural BC, mainly due to easy winters and under hunting. Since May 2003 we have lost 92 cattle on range, nearly ALL to grizzly bears. There is a predator compensation/mitigation program available here, funded by govt. and administered by our provicial cattle assn. The catch 22 is they only pay 75% of 75% of the estimated value of the animal. IF you can find it in time to verify that it was actually killed by a predator. We have been paid for 7 animals, whoopee :x . If I ever figure out how, I will post some pics of some cattle that survived attacks and some that didn't. The mitigation boys do an excellent job if you happen to find a fresh kill, but we don't have a lot of time to look when we are haying and this country doesn't lend itself to see all your cattle every day. Total losses for this area in 2007 was somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 cattle, this is from a mother cow herd of about 3500 cows from 11 ranches. Do the math and I think you will decipher my feelings on the live with nature philosophy.
