Aerial Hunt Targets Unimak Wolves Under Guise of Protecting Caribou
by Pamela Black
Alaska's wolves are being lined up for death again by aerial hunting and gassed dens. The target in this latest round of wolf massacres is the wolves of Unimak Island.Why? The Alaska Department of Fish and Game had to restrict bull caribou hunting in 2009 after their style of over-hunting left only five bulls per 100 cows.
Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is prepared to wage war against wolves in order to increase caribou numbers for hunters. What makes this even more devastating is that the Unimak Island is located within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. If a federal wildlife refuge is no longer a safe haven for wildlife, what is left?
We only have until January 31st to submit a response to the FWS public comment period for this plan. Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Center for Biological Diversity have each launched a fight against this decision. A decision that could have implications on a number of future wolf management decisions. Take action now to send your objections.
Alaska, The Last Frontier state, is well-known by now for their eagerness to use aerial hunting to kill wolves. ADF&G is hiding behind 50 residents of Unimak Island to justify wolf slaughter. These residents, they argue, require the Unimak Island caribou for subsistence hunting.
Not so, contends Alaska Wildlife Alliance. Unimak Island residents prefer to hunt on the mainland. Additionally, caribou is traditionally used as a diet supplement, where food from the water is the primary source of food.
In a letter (pdf) supporting a version of an environmental assessment plan that will lead to the most wolf deaths possible, ADF&G cited "predation by wolves as the most likely factor limiting caribou calf recruitment." I don't know about you, but the words most likely aren't very comforting coming from a state wildlife management agency. It sounds like scientific research wasn't a part of this determination.
The letter goes on to say that since hunting was restricted in 2009, populations have continued to decline. Well sure, since there aren't enough bulls for reproduction. The herd was left in a downward spiral that could not be reversed in a span of two years, regardless of wolf predation. Unobtainable expectations result in blaming of wolves, once again.
In addition to killing wolves, ADF&G wants to relocate bull caribou to the island. I can understand reversing the population crash they created by bringing in more caribou. But I get the feeling that once numbers are high enough to hunt, we will be in this same situation again. If there are no wolves left on the island, some other factor besides ADF&G management practices will be blamed.
All of this is happening rather quickly. Only six months ago, a federal judge ordered that before wolf killing could begin, an environmental study would have to be completed. The FWS environmental assessment does little more than advocate for Alaska's original plan.
An article in the Alaska Dispatch states that Alaska biologists "admit there is no guarantee that killing wolves that prey on Unimak caribou will help the herd grow." Population counts this past fall by Izembek National Wildlife Refuge indicate that the herd is showing signs of increasing. So killing for the sake of killing is the real M.O. here.
FWS originally objected to aerial hunting in wildlife refuges. It appears they have changed their minds, not due to new scientific data but rather from pressure within Alaska. This is a monumental mistake where we have the voices needed to prevent it from taking place.
Now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is prepared to wage war against wolves in order to increase caribou numbers for hunters. What makes this even more devastating is that the Unimak Island is located within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. If a federal wildlife refuge is no longer a safe haven for wildlife, what is left?
We only have until January 31st to submit a response to the FWS public comment period for this plan. Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Center for Biological Diversity have each launched a fight against this decision. A decision that could have implications on a number of future wolf management decisions. Take action now to send your objections.
Alaska, The Last Frontier state, is well-known by now for their eagerness to use aerial hunting to kill wolves. ADF&G is hiding behind 50 residents of Unimak Island to justify wolf slaughter. These residents, they argue, require the Unimak Island caribou for subsistence hunting.
Not so, contends Alaska Wildlife Alliance. Unimak Island residents prefer to hunt on the mainland. Additionally, caribou is traditionally used as a diet supplement, where food from the water is the primary source of food.
In a letter (pdf) supporting a version of an environmental assessment plan that will lead to the most wolf deaths possible, ADF&G cited "predation by wolves as the most likely factor limiting caribou calf recruitment." I don't know about you, but the words most likely aren't very comforting coming from a state wildlife management agency. It sounds like scientific research wasn't a part of this determination.
The letter goes on to say that since hunting was restricted in 2009, populations have continued to decline. Well sure, since there aren't enough bulls for reproduction. The herd was left in a downward spiral that could not be reversed in a span of two years, regardless of wolf predation. Unobtainable expectations result in blaming of wolves, once again.
In addition to killing wolves, ADF&G wants to relocate bull caribou to the island. I can understand reversing the population crash they created by bringing in more caribou. But I get the feeling that once numbers are high enough to hunt, we will be in this same situation again. If there are no wolves left on the island, some other factor besides ADF&G management practices will be blamed.
All of this is happening rather quickly. Only six months ago, a federal judge ordered that before wolf killing could begin, an environmental study would have to be completed. The FWS environmental assessment does little more than advocate for Alaska's original plan.
An article in the Alaska Dispatch states that Alaska biologists "admit there is no guarantee that killing wolves that prey on Unimak caribou will help the herd grow." Population counts this past fall by Izembek National Wildlife Refuge indicate that the herd is showing signs of increasing. So killing for the sake of killing is the real M.O. here.
FWS originally objected to aerial hunting in wildlife refuges. It appears they have changed their minds, not due to new scientific data but rather from pressure within Alaska. This is a monumental mistake where we have the voices needed to prevent it from taking place.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment