Thanks to Hunters

Wildlife Habitat Canada would like to acknowledge and thank the hunting community for their valuable contributions to wildlife habitat conservation. In addition to purchasing the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp to validate their annual Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, they pay other license fees which directly support wildlife management. Many attend conservation fundraising dinners and activities, as well as volunteer on committees and projects benefitting wildlife.

The general public needs to understand that hunting today is just as much a wildlife management tool as it is a recreational activity. For example, recent studies have shown that in some places in North America where there is an over abundance of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, they are viewed as a nuisance. What this means is eventually wildlife loses its intrinsic value as people separate themselves from nature.

We are seeing an extension of this with an entire generation of children who spend more time indoors watching television and playing computer games than they do playing outside. Some studies have demonstrated that these children are suffering from what has been coined as "nature deficit" disorder. Basically, they have no connection to the natural world and lack an understanding of why maintaining healthy wildlife populations and their habitat are important.

Since children are the future and will eventually be responsible for our wildlife and other natural resources, it is vital that they have to learn that we too are a part of nature and our well being is directly tied to how we manage the environment.

Most hunters have a passion for all wildlife.

Many organizations and individuals conduct youth mentoring programs. It should be noted that these programs go well beyond the various aspects of hunting. They also teach youth about the importance of terrestrial and aquatic habitat conservation, species diversity and biodiversity.

By educating young people about the need to maintain the quality of wildlife habitat, we will ensure that future generations, including non-hunters, will enjoy the abundance of wildlife species that we have today.

To learn more about the goals of WHC and how they correspond to those of the hunting community, read the article "Wildlife Habitat Canada: Keeping the Promise" featured in the August 2010 issue of Ontario Out of Doors magazine.