Defenders Condemns Law Allowing Public Aerial Wolf Killing
According to Joel Bennett, Senior Alaska Representative for Defenders of Wildlife, "Governor Murkowski has clearly caved in to pressure from the most extreme elements of the commercial hunting lobby by failing to veto a bill that he has consistently called objectionable and unacceptable. This action will once again plunge the state into controversial airborne wolf killing that could lead to tourist boycotts that are sure to damage Alaska's fragile economy. No matter how the state tries to minimize it, Alaska will be an aerial shooting gallery in the eyes of the nation."
Defenders has consistently opposed airborne wolf shooting except in the limited cases of a biological emergency when there is no other feasible alternative, and then only allowing Department of Fish and Game employees to carry out the program. Past efforts at widespread wolf control as a standard game management tool have not been cost effective, scientifically justified, or supported by the broad general public. Authorizing public airborne wolf shooting has resulted in abuses such as chasing, herding and wounding, and it is impossible to monitor effectively.
The State Legislature and now the Governor have blatantly disregarded the wishes of the Alaskan people by overturning two statewide ballot measures in 1996 and 2000. Both measures expressly banned public, same-day airborne wolf shooting in any form for any reason, including predator control. "Neither the Governor nor his one-sided appointments on the current Board of Game seem to care about what is acceptable to a majority of Alaskans," Bennett said.
"Whatever happened to democracy," says Karen Deatherage, Defenders Alaska Program Associate. "This is the third time the Legislature has overturned the vote of Alaska citizens. By signing SB 155, Murkowski continues the legacy of disrespect for the public's will on this issue."
Equally disturbing is a provision in the law that removes the Commissioner of Fish and Game from the final review and approval process before a predator control program is implemented. This is a drastic erosion of executive authority that Governor Murkowski had strongly objected to earlier but is now condoning by signing the bill into law.
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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 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.
Contact(s):
Karen Deatherage, (907) 683-2952
