Outrage over B.C. helicopter company used to collar Banff wolves - Action News
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Outrage over B.C. helicopter company used to collar Banff wolves

Parks Canada's decision to hire a contentious British Columbia helicopter company to help collar wolves with GPS trackers in Banff has sparked online outrage.

Parks Canada picks controversial helicopter company to help with wolf collaring

More than $10 million dollars has been spent by B.C. so far on the controversial wolf cull, according to documents obtained by CBC following an application under B.C.s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The B.C. government will kill almost 200 grey wolves this winter using sharpshooters in helicopters. (Chris Corday/CBC)

Parks Canada's decision to hire a contentious British Columbia helicopter company to help collar wolves with GPS trackers in Banff has sparked online outrage.

"They were hoping to slip this one under the rug," says wildlife photographer John Marriott.

Parks Canada hired Bighorn Helicopter to help collar wolves.

The Cranbrook-based private company helped with BC's controversial wolf cull earlier this year.

The company specializes in capturing wolves.

Online reaction

But Marriotand many others onlineare outraged by Bighorn Helicopter's involvement with efforts to track five wolves from three packs.

The Canmore man's Facebook post decrying Park's Canada's use of the companyhas received thousands of likes.

"Parks Canada needs to be leading the way and making ethical decisions like this when it comes to the management of their wolves and their wildlife,"saidMarriott from his cell phone, while travelling in the mountains.

Parks Canada defends its decision

In an e-mail statement to CBC News, the federal service says the company was chosen through a competitive contracting process.

Bighorn helicopters, the statement says, has the "specialised skills required to enable Parks Canada to successfully capture and collar wolves."

"The purpose of this collaring is to protect wolves and reduce wildlife mortality in the park."

John Marriott rejects Parks Canada's justification, saying Bighorn Helicopters "maybe the best in the business but that doesn't mean you sell their soul to them."

Bighorn Helicopters did not respond to CBC News' request for an interview.