Perhaps it should come as no surprise in our anthropocentric world that Alberta Fish and Wildlife has turned to mass murder in effort to control bear incursions on the Conklin dump. After all, we are human beings. We have decided to fan out like viruses, creating urban sprawls that dramatically impinge upon the living space of other creatures of this earth. It doesn’t matter whether we kill majestic sea creatures to satisfy our appetite for sushi and other exotic fish; and it doesn’t matter that we constantly build condominium projects, roads and other human infrastructure in nature’s paradise. If the inhabitants of those worlds cross our path (and heaven forbid if they annoy or inconvenience us) – kill em all!
In the last week, Alberta Fish and Wildlife has shot and killed 12 bears for being what they are – animals.
http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/08/18/10493736-sun.html
No longer afraid of humans, black bears are visiting the Conklin dump to scavenge for a meal. To satisfy their insatiable need to survive, the bears have decided to do what comes naturally – find easily accessible food. It may even be that their natural food is not as readily available because of their ever decreasing habitat. Whatever the case, we shoot them for no other reason other than doing what animals do. It’s not even like they attacked any humans or other animals, like the rogue Grizzly bears did in the case of Ms. Killam.
http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/08/18/10493726-sun.html
Even though officials captured a pair of Grizzlys, Ms. Killam continues to live in trepidation.
"What's stopping other bears from coming down?”, puzzles Ms. Killam. “How do I know there's not another bear out there?"
Well, I can pretty much assure Ms. Killam and every other human, there are other bears out there!
Newsflash, we share this Hillbilly’s Paradise with other animals.
Sometimes our interests collide. If you swim in the ocean, then you should expect big fish to be swimming nearby too! If you live on this earth, especially close to wildlife habitats, you should expect other animals to exist nearby too!
Newsflash, animals do not exist with the same anthropocentric ideals that human beings do. Newsflash, they need to eat to survive. They can't attend the local grocer to purchase a meal. So, they might eat garbage or even other ready prepared meals, like donkeys.
The coyote’s that roam near my house undoubtedly hunt and eatdogs and cats. They would even eat minen if was an easy meal. I accept this as a natural consequence of residing near a ravine. That is why I am watchful and careful with my pets.
I am not saying I want bears in my backyard or that I am prepared to give up my pet as easy dinner. I am saying that I accept the laws of nature and the laws of man do not always coincide. Accordingly, to protect my interests I keep watch on my animals -- ever aware that other wildlife lives nearby. I accept inherent natural dangers with this co-existence. To this end, I think Sustainable Resource Development spokesperson Dave Ealey is absolutely correct:
"People should be alert when living, working and playing in bear country."
I also think we need to accept the natural consequences of operating a dump near bear country. I do not agree that killing the wildlife is the answer. It’s not like the bear population has grown out of control, like disease infested rodents. In fact, the issue is not disease at all. The issue is fear and/or inconvenience.
Interestingly, we don’t slaughter Calgary’s Homeless population for picking through garbage in this City’s back alleys. Aside from the fact that animals are often bigger, stronger and have sharper teeth than humans, I fail to see that there is a major distinction. So, perhaps we need to rethink loading our guns to blast the life out of creatures that are doing what comes natural to them. Perhaps we should rethink murdering animals because they are trying to survive in an ever more anthropentric world.
By the way, I really do like donkeys.
David G. Chow
Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyer
www.calgarydefence.com
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