Feds Say 'No Action' Best for Unimak Wolves, Caribou

March 08, 2011|By Jackie Bartz | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says it’s appalled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s decision to not allow any action to be taken to protect the caribou herd on Unimak Island.

The state wants to use a helicopter to selectively target wolves preying on caribou calves, but the problem is that the calving grounds lie on a National Wildlife Refuge.

“I have to say I think we were caught a little bit flat-footed that they took the no action alternative, I was a bit shocked,” said Corey Rossi, Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation Director.

Rossi says the department is carefully looking at all of its options, but says the department will not let the herd numbers go down any further.

State biologists say there are only about 300 caribou left, and only 20 are bulls. The department says that is the lowest bull-to-cow ratio they’ve ever seen.

Over the summer, the state collared 15 calves. Biologists say 12 died within a month due to wolf predation.

Residents of False Pass, the village on Unimak Island, say the state needs to step in and save the caribou. Residents have not been allowed to use the herd for subsistence for several years.

“It would be exciting to have one or two calves survive, but I’m not too optimistic about that,” Cindy Beamer, the office manager for the Isanotski village corporation said.

Last June, ADF&G wanted to use a helicopter to selectively target seven wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service threatened legal action, which prompted the state to sue.

U.S. District Judge H. Russell Holland ruled in favor of the USFWS, saying the government needed to follow the rules and conduct an environmental assessment.

Nearly 100,000 people submitted comments on the environmental assessment.

“We were very pleased with the decision, we feel that the conservation of wildlife on Unimak Island is very beneficial,” said Theresa Fiorino, Alaska representative for Defenders of Wildlife.

The Board of Game will take up a proposal that deals with predator control on with Unimak Island Wednesday morning at its Board of Game hearing in Wasilla.

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