Defenders' Experts
Alaska Wolves: Publications and Facts
Video
Easy targets against fallen snow, wolves can be gunned down from airplanes or chased to exhaustion, then shot at point blank range. Watch our videos to find out what aerial hunting of wolves is really like. Warning: Contains graphic footage of aerial hunting of wolves.
- Short Version (2 minutes)
- Long Version (10 minutes)
Photographs
These pictures were taken in January of 2007 and were obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game through an Open Records Act request. If you use these images please credit the source as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The state contends that the aerial wolf hunting occurring in Alaska is not hunting but predator control. Defenders of Wildlife believes that the use of private hunters and pilots flying fixed wing airplanes rather than professional Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists using helicopters makes this an aerial hunting program. The hunters use their own planes, pay for their own gas and get to keep the pelts.
Warning: The following are graphic images from an actual aerial wolf hunt:
- Hunter with dead wolf near airplane (high-resolution PSD file*)
- Dead wolf hanging on airplane (high-resolution PSD file*)
- Close-up of dead wolf hanging on airplane (high-resolution PSD file*)
*These are Photoshop files (.psd), right-click and choose the proper option depending on your web browser to save them to your computer.
Alaska's Predator Control Program Maps
Currently, 6 of the 8 approved predator control programs in Alaska are being implemented. A map of each of the active predator control areas is provided below. A map of the most recently adopted program can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.
- Game Management Unit 12 and 20
- Game Managemnt Unit 13
- Game Management Unit 16
- Game Management Unit 19
- State map showing all predator control areas
Petitions
In 2004, Defenders twice petitioned the Interior Department to protect wolves under the Federal Airborne Hunting Act. To date, the Department of Interior has failed to amend its regulations to close the loophole in the Federal Airborne Hunting Act.
Read our petitions and learn more >>
Reports and Scientific Opinion
A 1996 report by the Wolf Reform Coalition about wolf control in Alaska, including information about legislation and elections on this issue.
This 1997 report was requested by Governor Tony Knowles in 1996. The report lays out a series of recommendations and guidelines regarding predator control. Read more about the NRC report.
Predator Management in Alaska - A CritiqueIn January of 2008, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game published several documents regarding its predator control programs. This paper is a review of these materials.
American Society of Mammalogists 2006 Resolution on Alaska’s Predator Control Programs
The American Society of Mammalogists is the oldest and most revered scientific society dedicated to the study of mammals. In 2006, it passed a resolution critical of the state’s predator control programs, which led to a series of communications between the state and the society.
In September 2007, nearly 200 scientists wrote a letter to Governor Sarah Palin regarding the state’s predator control programs. A similar letter signed by more than 100 scientists was sent to Governor Frank Murkowski in 2005.
More about the above reports and scientific opinions regarding predator control in Alaska.
Links
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Board of Game
Wolf Song of Alaska
