Cape Breton moose cull postponed after clash
Mi'kmaq hunters were starting Parks Canada moose cull meant to protect vegetation
Parks Canada has postponed an experimental moose cull in Cape Breton after a confrontation yesterday between Mi'kmaq hunters and about 30 protesters.
The incident Wednesday morning in Cape Breton Highlands National Park was heated, but wasn't physical, said Dennis Day, a hunter and hunting guide who lives in the area and who had been protesting in a shack nearby since Sunday.
The hunt was postponed by noon.
"We were hoping for a complete stop, but we got it postponed until everybody talks," Day told CBC News early Thursday. "Hopefully they'll let us be in on the meeting that happens when they decide what they're doing, because we haven't been involved in any of this."
Hunters from the Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources began setting up on North Mountain in the park on Monday.
Parks Canada says it's been trying to regenerate vegetation in an area on the mountain that was destroyed by the spruce budworm, but "hyper-abundant" moose eat the saplings.
There is concern for other wildlife on North Mountain that rely on vegetation for habitat, including Bicknell's thrush, a species at risk.
The cull is opposed by Nova Scotia's Federation of Hunters and Anglers, who accuse Parks Canada of not properly consulting people.
Day claims he's seen hardly any moose in their usual spots since last winter, and he believes the population was reduced by starvation and injury.
'No, we're in this together'
The wardens told the group a couple of people could make the approximately1.5-km walk into the woods to talk to the hunters.
"They just went 50 feet and everybody said, 'No, we're in this together' so we all went in," he said.
He said there was "a little bit of just arguing back and forth" between the two groups and that "it was close" to getting physical.
The wardens asked the protesters to leave and they did, Day said.
The RCMP were called and patrolled the area for the rest of the day.
Only Mi'kmaq hunters have permission to kill the moose for this cull, which covers 20 square kilometres.
The cull was to be held over two seasons, with a total quota of about 40 moose. It's not clear what will happen now.
"I feel good about it," Day said. "At least our voice is being heard now."
He said he hopes all sides will meet on Thursday.