Hunters devastated wildlife

[Dogbite]

Visiting hunters did terrible harm to Okanagan wildlife in the early 1900s

By Gywn Evans

I take exception to this story. Although hunting was a way of life in the epoch, I would hardly blame hunters for the demise of wildlife populations in this area or the rest of the Okanagan and BC for that matter.
Looking at the photo provided, it shows a total of 8 men, six seated in the car and two standing at the front fenders holding firearms. Upon the fenders are two mule deer bucks. The photo certainly does not depict a slaughter or "terrible harm" to wildlife.
I would say that the largest cause to the demise of wildlife, birds and wildlife animals, would be the grain cultivation and pasturing of large herds of livestock over copious tracts of land in the Okanagan as well as other areas of BC, but more so in the Okanagan.
During the goldrush era, cattle were driven up the Okanagan Valley from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, destined for Barkerville, Stanley and other goldrush settlements in the Cariboo. Also in that epoch, the creation of the Canadian Pacific trans-continental railway which also required a substantial meat supply. A place to raise and winter livestock was needed and lead to the creation of the O'Keefe Ranch and the Douglas Lake Ranch in the Merritt area.
Later, fruit orchards were developed which further exasperated the demise of wildlife. Where once they could winter in the valley bottom, they were forced to remain in the fringe area of their summer range.
As one can see, it was the loss of wildlife habitat was the terrible harm to Okanagan wildlife in the latter part of the 18th century and continuing on into the 19th century. Not the hunters as suggested
Dennis Youchezin
Chase BC

https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/33 ... d-wildlife

[Fancy]

I would think the citizens of Vernon would have had a good idea of what was happening at the time:

citizens of Vernon wrote many letters of complaint against the hunting parties, most of whom were visiting from the South.

Just taking the heads of animals and not utilizing the meat is very wasteful.

[TylerM4]

Visiting hunters did terrible harm to Okanagan wildlife in the early 1900s

By Gywn Evans

I take exception to this story. Although hunting was a way of life in the epoch, I would hardly blame hunters for the demise of wildlife populations in this area or the rest of the Okanagan and BC for that matter.
Looking at the photo provided, it shows a total of 8 men, six seated in the car and two standing at the front fenders holding firearms. Upon the fenders are two mule deer bucks. The photo certainly does not depict a slaughter or "terrible harm" to wildlife.

It's like only the picture and the headline were viewed.

Aside from the resident complaints mentioned by Fancy, there's also the numerous examples in the article.

In September 1892, a hunting party from eastern Canada killed 180 sage grouse at the Head of the Lake, destined for the Vancouver market.

A party of 20 Americans arrived in a private rail car to hunt big game that same year. They took only the heads and left the meat to rot.

In 1904, one family shot 92 blue grouse in a single day.

Yes, I'm sure other activities had an impact on wildlife. Especially in the century to come. But there is little doubt that hunters did indeed devastate the wildlife.

[rookie314]

Very misleading headline. Humans are devastating wildlife. We are in the midst of the largest extinction event in the history of the planet and it is human driven.

[Fancy]

Very misleading headline. Humans are devastating wildlife. We are in the midst of the largest extinction event in the history of the planet and it is human driven.

Didn't seem misleading to me when the focus was on the early 1900's