Organized bird hunt in Manitoba draws criticism from animal rights activists

Animal activists want the Wildlife Act changed following a planned hunt of crows and magpies in a Manitoba community scheduled this weekend.

A magpie and crow shoot planned by a southern Manitoba wildlife association has been denounced by animal welfare advocates and sparked calls to change provincial wildlife legislation.

A social media post by the Woodlands and District Wildlife Association advertises a one-day-only crow and magpie shoot followed by a barbecue.

Two-person teams can enter, with prizes awarded to first and second place.

The association said in a statement to CTV News Winnipeg the event was organized in response to concerns from farmers and landowners about crow and magpie population. They can be a threat to agriculture and livestock if overpopulated, the statement said, particularly in the spring during calving season.

They also worry about the spread of avian flu.

“Magpies and crows being a carrier of the disease are a concern due to their regular contact with livestock and other mammals,” organizer Hailey Darrell Hueging said in the statement.

Participants are required to follow all hunting rules and regulations, and the event is happening on private property with permission from landowners.

While there has been some positive feedback, Hueging said the event is misunderstood by some.

“There has been a lot of negative media attention surrounding the event mostly due to misinformation or a lack of knowledge related to it.”

Animal groups call for changes to Wildlife Act

Manitoba animal welfare organizations have posted about the event online, calling on the public to voice their concerns to their MLA or the premier.

“We were really shocked and surprised when we saw that this type of event was being hosted,” said Krista Boryskavich, WHS’ director of animal advocacy and government affairs.

While these events are legal in the province, Borsykavich challenges whether contests of this nature are safe, as hunters could be inexperienced and allow for unnecessary suffering of the birds.

She also takes issue with the marketing of the event.

“It’s being billed as family-friendly. There’s a barbecue after, and we have significant concerns with what that’s teaching families, young people, and children, that life isn’t important,” she said.

Boryskavich also refutes that hunts are effective in controlling bird populations. Conversely, she said they can have damaging effects on changing ecosystems.

WHS sent a letter to the provincial government, calling for the Wildlife Act to be amended to ban these sorts of contests.

Ian Bushie, Manitoba’s minister of natural resources and Indigenous affairs, said he heard from a number of people who had concerns about the event, and had conservation officers reach out to organizers.

“They’re not violating or breaking the law in any capacity,” he said.

He noted the hunt is allowed to go forward as crows and magpies are not protected or endangered species and the event is happening on private property.

Still, Bushie is open to meeting with animal welfare groups.

“We’re open to doing whatever needs to be done based on what the conversation is, what the concerns are and if it’s something that’s feasible and doable for Manitobans, then we’re absolutely willing to do any changes that are necessary,” he said.

- With files from CTV’s Scott Andersson