Outfitter allegedly paid 7k$ by American organization looking to expand sheep hunting in Alberta
Minister Todd Loewen defended the practice, saying “Managing predator populations is also an important part of protecting threatened species like caribou, and big game animals like bighorn sheep, moose, and elk.”. (His post attaches headlines from attacks in Vancouver, Airdrie, and Ontario.)
(Loewen had last year controversially allowed bear hunting and doubled cougar quotas, neither of which involved consulting conservation specialists.)
Wildlife photographer John Marriott (who reported the orphaned kittens) replied to the statement:
Minister Loewen standing up for trophy hunters and not for the wildlife he’s supposed to be protecting
-John E. Marriott, per Calgary Herald article
Mr Marriott later appeared on “Real Talk Ryan Jespersen”:
A later investigation showed that the cubs were young enough to still have spots, a point at which it would be illegal to hunt the mother. According to the article, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services “These spots would likely not have been discernible in the forest environment during a hunting situation”
The Alberta government site “My Wild Alberta” reads “Before shooting, hunters should carefully evaluate whether a cougar has spots or whether it is accompanied by another cougar that has spots.”, but if that’s kind of tricky then you should just pull that trigger it’s apparently fine.