Predator Control

Alaska's controversial predator control program will continue.         The Alaska Supreme Court upheld the program Friday, saying it does not violate Alaska's constitutional mandate to manage wildlife for sustained yield. Defenders of Wildlife and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance sued the state, arguing that intensive predator control violates the state's obligation to manage wildlife populations for the benefit of everyone. But the court ruled that wildlife management sometimes includes choosing to bolster a prey population by killing part of the predator population.

by Mary Pemberton The Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Board of Game is meeting this week to consider more than 50 proposals. The four-day meeting begins Friday in Anchorage. On the agenda are proposals to expand the state's predator control program where over 1,000 wolves and nearly as many bears have been killed since 2003. Not all the proposals before the board fall strictly under Alaska wildlife. One proposal would allow Alaskans to own Bengal, Savannah and Chausie cats.

by Ashton Goodell Monday, March 22, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game plans to answer questions about the state's controversial predator control program with a short DVD. The plan is to shoot a series of short videos with answers to frequently asked questions about predator control. The brief documentary will cost $100,000 to produce. Fish and Game says the documentary should clear up some of the confusion about why the state manages predators.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, May 28, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The State of Alaska is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for blocking proposed predator control action on Unimak Island. The state has been seeking cooperation with Fish and Wildlife to kill wolves on the island in order to preserve a caribou herd that is on the brink of dying out. The suit, filed Friday, says the federal agency has violated the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Alaska.

by Jason Lamb Thursday, June 3, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal judge is planning to hear arguments in the legal battle over predator control on Unimak Island next week in a dispute between the federal and state wildlife agencies. It will take the judge at least until Monday to rule on whether he'll allow the state Department of Fish and Game to kill wolves in an effort to boost the caribou population on Unimak Island. It's the biggest island of the Aleutian chain -- and also part of a national wildlife refuge.

The Alaska Board of Game Central and Southwest region stretches all the way from the Aleutian Islands to the Canadian border. This is the region that is up for the next series of rule changes by the Alaska Board of Game. For the next week, until Feb. 15, the Board will meet at the Best Western in Wasilla. The Board says this is a collective effort to improve the hunting rules of the region. "It's an opportunity for the department to work with the board members and the public so we can discuss some of the issues that are the most important to most Alaskans," Alaska Department of Fish and Game Deputy Commissioner Craig Fleener said.  There are a lot of important topics, but the two that receive the most attention are predator control and subsistence.

by Jackie Bartz Tuesday, March 30, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- State and federal officials are blaming miscommunication for the killing of two collared wolves that were part of a federal study. State biologists shot the animals during an aerial predator control hunt earlier this month. Officials with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game say the gunmen saw the collars, but didn't pick up the frequency because the paperwork didn't make it into the plane. They agree with National Park Service representatives that neither agency intentionally misled the other or violated protocol -- it was just a mix-up.

The Alaska Board of Game unanimously voted Wednesday to extend hunting and trapping seasons for wolves on Unimak Island in an effort to protect the caribou herd. The board also expanded the predator control area on Unimak Island. Alaska Board of Game member Ted Spraker says it's not a very effective tool, but it's the only one in the box right now. Earlier this week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will not let the Alaska Department of Fish and Game do any predator control on Unimak Island.

The State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game will begin shooting wolves for the first time on the Kenai Peninsula, in order to boost moose populations for hunters. It's part of an intensive management plan for moose that was passed by the Alaska Board of Game on Tuesday, during its statewide meeting in Anchorage. "It's to promote a balance between the predators and the prey, relative to human interest for having food for consumption in that area of the state," said Dale Rabe, acting director of the department's Division of Wildlife Conservation.

The Alaska Board of Game Central and Southwest region stretches all the way from the Aleutian Islands to the Canadian border. This is the region that is up for the next series of rule changes by the Alaska Board of Game. For the next week, until Feb. 15, the Board will meet at the Best Western in Wasilla. The Board says this is a collective effort to improve the hunting rules of the region. "It's an opportunity for the department to work with the board members and the public so we can discuss some of the issues that are the most important to most Alaskans," Alaska Department of Fish and Game Deputy Commissioner Craig Fleener said.  There are a lot of important topics, but the two that receive the most attention are predator control and subsistence.

Every year, Alaska hunters eagerly await not only the hunting season, but also the rules and regulations that apply to the taking of wolves, coyotes and bears. Earlier this week, the National Park Service made its annual proposals focusing on three main changes -- which officials think are necessary to preserve the health of specific animal populations. The Park Service has proposed prohibiting the hunting of wolves and coyotes between May 1 and Aug. 9, as well as the hunting of brown bears at bait stations.

The State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game will begin shooting wolves for the first time on the Kenai Peninsula, in order to boost moose populations for hunters. It's part of an intensive management plan for moose that was passed by the Alaska Board of Game on Tuesday, during its statewide meeting in Anchorage. "It's to promote a balance between the predators and the prey, relative to human interest for having food for consumption in that area of the state," said Dale Rabe, acting director of the department's Division of Wildlife Conservation.

Snaring bears and aggressive predator control: causes that Corey Rossi fought for as head of the Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation - and also causes being taken up this week at the Alaska Board of Game meeting in Anchorage.  But on Friday, the first day of meetings, Rossi was conspicuously absent.  Even so, he was much the topic of conversation in the hallways outside the meeting.  His resignation came the day before, when the...

The Alaska Board of Game unanimously voted Wednesday to extend hunting and trapping seasons for wolves on Unimak Island in an effort to protect the caribou herd. The board also expanded the predator control area on Unimak Island. Alaska Board of Game member Ted Spraker says it's not a very effective tool, but it's the only one in the box right now. Earlier this week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will not let the Alaska Department of Fish and Game do any predator control on Unimak Island.

Alaska's controversial predator control program will continue.         The Alaska Supreme Court upheld the program Friday, saying it does not violate Alaska's constitutional mandate to manage wildlife for sustained yield. Defenders of Wildlife and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance sued the state, arguing that intensive predator control violates the state's obligation to manage wildlife populations for the benefit of everyone. But the court ruled that wildlife management sometimes includes choosing to bolster a prey population by killing part of the predator population.

by Jackie Bartz Sunday, June 6, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- State biologists hoping to kill wolves on Unimak Island are waiting for a court ruling that could let them proceed. The island's caribou calving grounds lie on a national wildlife refuge, and federal officials say killing wolves may be detrimental in the long run. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says federal policy doesn't allow drastic changes without proper research. The state sued, and now the decision lies in the hands of U.S. District Judge H. Russel Holland.

by Jason Lamb Thursday, June 3, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal judge is planning to hear arguments in the legal battle over predator control on Unimak Island next week in a dispute between the federal and state wildlife agencies. It will take the judge at least until Monday to rule on whether he'll allow the state Department of Fish and Game to kill wolves in an effort to boost the caribou population on Unimak Island. It's the biggest island of the Aleutian chain -- and also part of a national wildlife refuge.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, May 28, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The State of Alaska is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for blocking proposed predator control action on Unimak Island. The state has been seeking cooperation with Fish and Wildlife to kill wolves on the island in order to preserve a caribou herd that is on the brink of dying out. The suit, filed Friday, says the federal agency has violated the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Alaska.

by Mary Pemberton The Associated Press Monday, May 24, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal agency is threatening to take legal action if the state of Alaska kills wolves inside a national wildlife refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday that if the Alaska Department of Fish and Game proceeds with its plans to kill wolves on Unimak Island without a special use permit, the Fish and Wildlife Service will consider it trespassing and refer the issue to the U.S. Attorney.