Resolution No. 9 – 08A
Control of Predators

WHEREAS in some areas of the province, the population of predators such as wolves, coyotes, lynx and cougars have been increasing; and

WHEREAS these predators are causing significant losses to livestock producers and safety issues for persons who may come in contact with these animals;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Ministry of Environment to develop a program to control the population of such predators.

Response from Honourable Nancy Heppner, Minister of Environment

The Ministry of Environment recognizes that predators play an important role in keeping ungulate and small mammal populations under control and as such are vital to a health ecosystem.  The Ministry also recognizes that inidividual predator or predator packs can become problems by preying on or harassing livestock, and to this end the ministry is involved in a number of initiatives to assist with such problems.

Provincial regulations under The Wildlife Act allow a landowner to destroy any predator that is considered to be posing a threat to his livestock or property.

The Ministry of Agriculture funds the Saskatchewan Livestock Predation Program.  The Ministry of Environment is responsible for developing  the policy framework under which this program operates.  The program is administered through the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board and is available to any producer who is experiencing problems associated with predators.  The program provides the services of expert predator control persons who will remove problem animals and will work with the producer to develop long-term strategies for reducing risk.

The Ministry of Environment has also created a Wolf Managment Area (WMA) wherein a Rural Municipality (RM) may name additional ratepayers to conduct predator control within their RM including removal of wolves and coyotes at any time on land where they have permission to shoot or trap.  Also within the WMA trappers may use wolf snares as part of their routine trapping activity.  This special wolf management approach could be expanded to include additional municipalities by mutual consent of the ministry and municipality.