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For Immediate Release
Defenders of Wildlife Opposes Board of Game Plan to Double the Size of Aerial Wolf Killing Program
Grizzly Bears and Wolves on Federal Lands Also Targeted
ANCHORAGE, AK – Defenders of Wildlife ("Defenders") will testify next week before the Alaska Board of Game to strongly oppose a proposal that calls for the near doubling of the area where aerial wolf control will be permitted. The same proposal seeks to allow killing of predators on federal lands and could permit land and shoot killing of grizzlies, both of which Defenders strongly opposes.
Equally troubling is that this proposal will target wolves and bears on federal lands in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve and the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. (A map of the area is located online at Predator Control Map Both the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have sent letters to the Board of Game asking that these areas be excluded from the state's control plans because this activity has not been approved by the two federal agencies, and would result in a significant conflict between State and Federal management. The proposal also attempts to sidestep its obligation to first obtain federal consent by suggesting the state need only "coordinate" its activities with appropriate federal agencies.
"This Board's blatant disregard for science-based wildlife management and the public's strong opposition to aerial wolf killing is unmatched in the history of Alaska's wildlife management," says Karen Deatherage, Alaska Program Associate for Defenders of Wildlife. "Given this proposal to expand aerial wolf control and kill bears was prepared at the request of the Board of Game, unfortunately there is a strong likelihood it will pass."
The Alaska Board of Game will meet November 2 - 5 in Juneau to deliberate on a proposal which will target up to 400 wolves, as well as an unknown number of grizzly bears. This will be the first time since Governor Frank Murkowski overturned a citizen's prohibition on public aerial predator control that grizzly bears are targeted. Under the state's new Bear Conservation and Management Policy, hunters will be able to land and shoot, baiting, the killing of sows and cubs, or trapping to kill grizzly bears in this area.
Defenders believes the aerial control programs are illegal under the Federal Airborne Hunting Act ("the Act") and has petitioned Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton to enforce the Act and stop the state's practice of using airplanes to chase down wolves and shoot them. The initial petition, filed last spring, was denied by the Secretary and the Secretary has yet to respond to an amended petition that was filed by Defenders in August based on the Board of Game's proposed large-scale expansion of the area designated for aerial control programs.
Last winter, 147 wolves in a 10,000 square mile area were killed by gunning teams using aircraft. In March, the Board of Game added two more control programs thus tripling the area to 30,000 square miles. Nearly 500 wolves are slated to be killed this winter. Applications for aerial gunning teams are currently under review by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, with permits expected to be issued by early December.
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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 480,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.
