Controlling the Alaskan Predators

Sarah Palin's defense for Alaska's aerial hunting of wolves, was succinct and in her mind, very convincing. In her words: "Alaskans depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can't be sustained when predators (?) are allowed to decimate moose and caribou populations." This statement was made, in spite of the fact that aerial wolf hunting in Alaska remains highly controversial. Citizen efforts to stop it continue. Alaska voters have twice approved initiatives to stop the hunts, and another is slated to go on the ballot later this year.

Wolves, in Palin's book, are predators. Because they hunt and use up moose and caribou for their own sustenance.

For one moment, I want to flip this around so I can see it from a wolf's viewpoint.

If I were a gray wolf, I would consider Sarah Palin a predator. Palin and her cohorts who hunt and decimate the moose and caribou populations that are the wolves' main sustenance, are the true predators. Predators who, hunt and kill not only for food, but for pleasure, for sport, for fun, for thrill and to feel macho. Predators who, somehow think that this world is theirs to desecrate, theirs to plunder, theirs and only theirs to do with, as they please. Predators who justify the gassing of wolf pups left orphaned after their mothers and fathers are chased and shot from the air.

A wolf kills caribou and moose so it can eat. That is its natural instinct. It does so, with no guile, no guns, no helicopters, no shooting at the back, no selfish and self-centered arrogance. Whereas, Palin and some of her fellow Alaskans seem to think that the moose and caribou exist for their sole pleasure. The Alaskan land exists just for them. What gives humans the right to label other animals as predators?

Are we not the biggest predators on this planet? Is there anything left to plunder, pillage and rape on any land, after a human being has set his foot on it? Is hunting ever played on a level playing field where we hunt on the ground, without fancy rifles, airplanes and shotguns? Do we ever hunt and kill only what we can consume? Do we ever desist from senseless murder of God's living beings?

Who is the real predator?