Brooks Fahy and George Wuerthner,,,,Guys, you have a kindred spirit in Alaska biologist Rick Sinnott........Rick states that "black and grizzly bears can be effective predators on moose calves, but it remains unclear whether reducing grizzly bear populations will increase calf survival. A calf eaten by a grizzly may have been just as likely to be killed by another predator, or disease, or accident, or an inexperienced mother".............."The point is that controversial and potentially destructive programs to control predators should be fiscally and scientifically justifiable. Fish and Game has spent millions of dollars -- in the field, in meetings, in public relations, and in the courtroom -- to implement and defend predator control. Are we harvesting millions of dollars worth of additional moose and caribou?"

Commentary: There's no science backing state's war on grizzlies

The Parnell administration is going to war against certain Alaska grizzly bear populations with little science to back up reasons for the attack, says Rick Sinnott, the outspoken former Anchorage-area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Writing for Alaska Dispatch, Sinnott cites a new scientific paper indicating there's little evidence that the strategy will increase the numbers of moose and caribou for hunters. Sinnott writes:

Savvy wildlife managers know there is little solid evidence that grizzly bears limit growth of moose or caribou populations. So Fish and Game calls the current rash of intensive bear-control efforts "experiments."

The [journal] authors are well aware that both black and grizzly bears can be effective predators on moose calves, but it remains unclear whether reducing grizzly bear populations will increase calf survival. A calf eaten by a grizzly may have been just as likely to be killed by another predator, or disease, or accident, or an inexperienced mother.

 The point is that controversial and potentially destructive programs to control predators should be fiscally and scientifically justifiable. Fish and Game has spent millions of dollars -- in the field, in meetings, in public relations, and in the courtroom -- to implement and defend predator control. Are we harvesting millions of dollars worth of additional moose and caribou?