Other than drought, predator management is a top issue affecting ranchers throughout the Cariboo according to the Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.
Steve Thomson who is Lac La Hache today meeting with local ranchers, stopped in Williams Lake Thursday to speak with media.
He says the provincial government has taken a number of steps to address the concerning issue.
“We’ve adjusted bag limits, we’ve looked at trapping and permitting opportunities…but I think what I’m going to hear is that there is more that needs to be done-how do we improve response, how do improve coordination of activities.”
“MLA Donna Barnett has really brought this issue forward strongly that there is a significant economic impact to the ranching community and we need to find ways to help address that. There is a compensation program in place but I think everybody knows including us, including ranchers that compensation isn’t the way to approach it.”
“It helps short term but doesn’t recover the losses so we need to look at do we have some other tools to help address this.”
Thomson says he will be in the Mackenzie-Chetwynd area next week continuing to meet with local ranchers and hear their concerns.
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