As June goes by I decided to dedicate a blog post to answer a few of the emails I have gotten in one fell swoop. Names are obviously changed etc to preserve anonymity. As always if you have any questions feel free to email me at petroschrysafis@gmail.com
Q1: How will the U.K leaving the E.U affect the environment and the policies in place?
A: That's a good question. I don't know the specifics of E.U law but I do know that the E.U has certain laws that are set in place to protect migratory birds, nest sites as well as certain habitats all of which were protected in the U.K under E.U law. Therefore the U.K leaving the E.U means that may choose to manage those sites as they wish which may affect species if those sites/species aren't managed as they are in the E.U. For example if a specific species of geese is shot in the U.K but protected in the E.U it would have been protected under E.U law but now it will not.
That being said there are a few ways this can change. Usually countries sign international law agreements so the U.K can participate in species/site conservation in the same way as the rest of the E.U. if it wishes.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the funding for conservation/research. The E.U. has money set aside to fund conservation efforts and research as well as money used by reserves and incentives for landowners to manage their land in specific ways. With that money gone the U.K government may either have to compensate the landowners and provide funding to reserves etc or conservation efforts may be undercut.
Q2: What are your plans right now and the future?
A: Currently I am studying at CSU, Fresno doing a mixture of behavioural ecology and urban ecology. As for the future I am hoping to direct my studies back to wolves and mix behavioural ecology with conservation.
Q3: I live in Northern California, in what is now wolf country. A lot of people are saying that it's good but a few have mentioned " accidentally" shooting them. With the wolves moving further down what's going to happen to them?
A: First of all the Shasta Pack is doing very well. New images surfaced and they are a beautiful pack. Secondly there have been reports of another wolf in Lassen Country which is still unconfirmed. As it stands wolves in California are protected under the State and Federal laws so it would be illegal if any wolves are killed. Reporting individuals which say that they will kill wolves will amount to nothing sadly as it could just be an act. What is going to happen is hard to tell but hopefully there will be a healthy population soon enough and wolves will live in California undisturbed by humans.
Q4: How far do you expect Pacific wolves to venture into California?
A: My guess is that undisturbed they will make it into the Sierra Nevada and edge on the Central Valley. That is going to be the proving grounds in terms of conservation efforts. The Central Valley is largely agricultural so depredation will likely occur. Now whether agricultural owners are going to be okay with compensation/coexistence remains to be seen.
I doubt they will make it past Yosemite to be honest but wolves always seem to surprise. In fact wolves may move into Southern California if there ever is more progress in the Mexican wolf front.
That's all the questions I have. Thank you to everyone which send me emails asking me about my opinion on certain things and don't be afraid to send me more emails if want to know my opinion on anything else.
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