The B.C. government killed 237 wolves as part of its wolf cull program over the winter despite a court challenge on the legality of the aerial practice.
Pacific Wild, a B.C.-based environmental group, launched a legal petition in July 2020 claiming the province’s wolf cull program is unlawful because it contradicts wildlife regulations and federal aviation laws. But because of COVID-19 and court delays, a hearing date hasn’t yet been set.
The wolf cull involves radio-collaring single wolves, tracking them to their packs, and then aerial gunning the animals from helicopters. The government program is supposed to help caribou populations rebound, but its efficacy is widely disputed by environmentalists and biologists.