It comes back to the same issue as with grizzlies, and Raincoast is an excellent example of the problem.
Raincoast wants to save wolves and they (Raincoast) are influential. Their position on caribou is that the caribou should be written off and human activity blamed. Wolves, they argue, did not create the problem and should not have to pay the price for it.
(In other words, wolves good, caribou expendable).
This is despite the fact that wolves do not require saving.
The next tie in is science. Raincoast (and others on their side of the discussion) feel that science is all well and good, but before science comes into the equation we have to make decisions based on ethics and morals. Raincoast and others are of the opinion that science cannot inform us on the moral and ethical questions.
Translation: moral and ethical people value wolves more than caribou and science can't trump morals. The guys banging this drum, as said, have influence which they have worked hard to develop.
Scientist, on the other hand, recognize that while some species are doomed to extinction there are others (black footed ferret, mexican gray wolf) that can be saved. They recognize that predator management plays a big role (band aid role if that's all you do, but a role none the less).
Shooting, trapping and poisoning wolves is a very tough sell to the public (I believe someone by the name of Jesse Zeman has identified our need for social license. Social license is exactly what's missing in wolf killing), but reducing ungulates is easier because there isn't a need for social license and guys like Raincoast don't give a shit about ungulates.
I'm not certain that going after moose was the conscious second choice of the bios, but I do know (as we all do) that shooting wolves is problematic.
There's a study goign around that measured the results of this kind of practice. I am not sure I read it correctly as it seems like only a band aid, but I'll try to get it up.
Point of my rant? We need science back management, funding and social license. We need all three. I will be visiting an MLA in a hour and a half and will discuss this and other issues.
I need more volunteers to visit MLAs. PM me or email me at rob@robchipman.net.