Why Killing Natural Predators is a Huge Mistake

​www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/the-perils-of-wandering-wolves-m2001-a-lone-male-from-banff-shot-dead-by-montana-hunter/ar-BB1eViJs?li=AAggFp4

A Canadian wolf made it's way to Montana, leaving its pack in search of new opportunities, and was met with bullets by a hunter who legally ended the wolf's life. The story I linked tells the story of this wolf and also details what dangers lie in store for wolves that leave their packs & the protection of National Parks. There is however, a much bigger picture here and it starts and ends with our continued slaughter of the planet's predatory animals.

When we talk about invasive species, we rarely look at ourselves as the biggest example of all. We have taken land, polluted the water, destroyed our forests, and ultimately disrupted every other living thing on this planet. What we have also done is given ourselves the right to choose what animals should live, and which should die. We have ultimately allowed ourselves to play the position of "God", manipulating the animal kingdom for our own salacious desires as we destroy everything in our path. No other living creature on this planet is safe from our corruption.

Some of us hunt to feed our families. Some of us may hunt to protect our families from danger. A lot of us however, hunt for sport. The animals we hunt are often the planet's predators, the ones responsible for maintaining the healthy balance of every ecosystem on this planet. Wolves, lions, tigers, coyotes, foxes, bears, leopards, etc., these animals are a necessary part of the circle of life. Without predatory animals, herbivorous animals will undoubtedly become abundant. With that abundance, comes the destruction of the ecosystems they inhabit. More plant-eating animals means more plants required to be consumed. If we are not actively contributing food through planting initiatives, these animals will decimate their own habitat. Knowing this however, we as humans know exactly when it is our responsibility to cull these animals to protect our environment. Once again, playing "God".

We have manipulated the planet to such a degree, that every other living creature on it is at the mercy of our decisions. We kill all the predators, and then kill the herbivores for destroying our environment. All of this while polluting to such a degree that we have seen swans building nests out of nearby trash. Our manipulation of everything around us is exactly why so many species face the possibility of extinction.

You see, every single species on the endangered species list is likely there because of the actions of humans. When you look at habitat loss, it is attributed to human growth and development. When you look at poaching or sport hunting, it couldn't be more obviously traced back to us. We are responsible for the survival of every other species on this planet and frankly, we are failing them. We are pushing every other species on this planet towards extinction while happily enriching our own lives. Our continued search for resources, our continued growth and development, and our continued desire to shoot and kill animals for sport will be the reason we witness the extinction of so many of our planet's most recognized species.

I'd love to be optimistic and say that we are learning, that we are slowly coming around to the damage that we are doing, but I don't believe that enough of us on this planet are truly coming around. I look to the recent slaughter of grey wolves in Wisconsin. Grey wolves had only been delisted from the Endangered Species Act for less than 2 months before the state of Wisconsin happily moved forward with a wolf hunt, ending the lives of 216 individuals. It's almost as though we are waiting on bait and hook for our opportunity to kill, without any regard for the well-being or survival of a species. History has sadly demonstrated that we are nowhere near ready to be accountable for our planet and the decisions we make that affect it.

I worry for the future of our animals. Have we manipulated the planet to such an extent that there is no going back?

HAPPY VEG