It's coming up on winter again- do YOU know what that means for Alaskan Wolves?

Question

Death.

By aerial hunting. Despite the 1972 Airborne Hunting Act- which prohibits animals from being shot from planes, that's exactly what the Alaskan department of Fish and Game is gearing up to do- AGAIN.

They are openly flaunting their defiance of this law through - you guessed it - a BS loophole - kind of like Japan killing whales in defiance of the whaling ban by calling it "research."

Alaska isn't even calling wolf hunting from planes anything other than wolf hunting from planes. Their gov't is deep in the pockets of the sportsmen's orgs. and they want the money to slaughter these beautiful animals by plane.

Thanks to their dangerous precedent the Bush Machine (who of course despises wildlife protection and loves 'sportsmen') is trying to initiate similar destructive procedures for killing wildlife in other states, including those that make up the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

If you are a wolf or wildlife lover, no time is more urgent to help- so that Bush/Cheney Inc. can't get irrevocable laws in place that continue to kill wolves even after they're gone.

Please go to this link- sign the petition and THANK your congressman for his help. If you are in Alaska, PLEASE call the Governor's office to protest:

http://action.defenders.org/site/PageServer?pagename=savewolves_homepage

THANK YOU SO MUCH FELLOW WOLF LOVERS!!!

Answer 1

Thank-you Howldine. Not only does it mean death my friend, it means pain and torture for those wolves. We as citizens need to write letters and defend these animals. They have a right to be here just as much as we do (more than we do if you ask me). It disgusts me how people can mindlessly kill these animals, never mind running them to exhaustion in a plane and shooting them when they can no longer run. That is cruelty in every sense of the word.

ADD: Gunning wolves from a plane in Alaska is in no means predator control. As Howldine has stated, any fluctuation in big game population is due to weather and environmental changes. The deer, elk and moose populations are steady in Alaska. Not to mention the fact that wolves are not out there hunting large numbers of perfectly healthy animals. They are hunting the injured, sick and elderly animals. They kill no more than they need (unlike us).

Gunning wolves will not solve the problem. Predator and Prey relations are healthy and stable. Why change that? There will always be fluctuations in populations. There will always be balance in nature unless we interfere...which of course, we will.

ADD2: I have to say, I do not expect everyone to believe this and I don't expect everyone to take this information as fact. I do, however, encourage and expect them to research a neutral source and educate themselves on the subject before ever deciding what is truth and what is not.

Answer 2

i already sign these everytime they come in.

but i need to talk to you as soon as you have time.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry Howldine, this is one thing I disagree with you on, respectfully.

You have to have predator control, the caribou population requires it.  It's a necessary evil.

I'm sure lots of environmentalists will give me a thumbs down, but I grew up in Alaska, I know precisely what's going on, and, I, respectfully, have more knowledge of it, than ANYONE that hasn't even BEEN here.

Now, I completely disagree with sport hunting from planes, but to eliminate an overpopulation of a predator, that will directly result in the decline of caribou herds that are already at risk I 100% agree with.

EDIT:  Alaska has not suffered severe enough weather to kill off the caribou in such a dramatic way in MANY years.  In fact, the Alaska pipeline offers a warm sanctuary for them to birth by where the wolves will not come near.  Their populations should be RISING because of this.  They are NOT.  Again, move to Alaska, check out the weather.

Howldine-- there are experts to EACH side of EVERY story.  Just as you are allowed your opinion on the matter, I am allowed mine.  As 18 years my senior, you should be mature enough to understand that.

EDIT2:  I agree, research needs to be done from a NEUTRAL source.

Answer 4

I don't have enough information to judge one way or another.

I'm assuming (though I don't know because I haven't researched it) the wolves are being hunted due to overpopulation. Hunting and wildlife conservation often go hand in hand; the WWF supports hunting as a form of population control, and hunters are some of the biggest wildlife/nature conversationalists.

I think it very unsportsmanlike to shoot from planes though. I think that should be illegal, if they're going to hunt, they should be doing it on the ground.

I gotta do some more research on this before I make a decision.

.

Answer 5

Yes :( I have been dreading it. Since now its legal to hunt them. Its terrible. What these people don't understand is that they filter out the sick animals

But im @ a loss. Idk what to do about it. Its really upsetting to me

Answer 6

In reading some of the articles, this is what I do not understand:

"The Fortymile caribou herd at 43,000 animals has stopped growing after numbers nearly doubled in the past eight years, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner."

"Fish and Game is proposing to expand the existing aerial wolf control program in Units 12 and 20E and annex parts of Units 20B, 20D and 25C into the plan. The goal is to build the herd up to between 50,000 and 100,000 with a harvest of 1,000 to 15,000 caribou a year. The harvest is currently capped at 850 animals."

"The (Recovery) plan included the sterilization of 15 pairs of breeding wolves and relocating more than 100 other wolves, as well as intensified trapping efforts and hunting restrictions.

"The plan worked. The herd grew to 43,000 by 2003 and has fluctuated between 41,000 and 43,000 since. "

"The wolf population in the new proposed control area is estimated at 210 to 225 and Fish and Game is proposing to reduce the population to no less than 50 wolves."

So here's my questions.  If the Recovery Plan, which including sterilization of 15 breeding pairs, & relocation of 100 wolves, worked well enough in 1990 to bring the caribou herd in question, up from 23000 to 43000 caribou in 2003, but has now reached a plateau---why are they not doing the same procedures again?    Instead, they are choosing to elimate 175 of the 225 wolves by aerial shooting.  

Also,their goal is to raise that specific caribou population up from 43000 to 50,000 -100,000--but they plan to "harvest" some of that same caribou population by between 1000 to 15,000 caribou per year.  If the population is so at-risk--why allow any "harvest" ?

add:

Another thought--If the caribou group that this shooting is attempting to control, has reached a "plateau" in growth--wouldn't that indicate a balance in nature of predator population vs prey?

This proposal went to vote in Alaska in 1996 and in 2000, both times a majority of Alaskans were against aerial wolf population control, both times it was overturned by the Legislature.

http://current.com/items/88816799_end_ae...

Answer 7

I began answering this, Howldine, and Y!A freaking LOST it... I got taking a breather three time, and POOF, it was gone.  I'm fuming.  I had to walk away for a while.

Since my first attempt, Miaugh has answered and asked a few good questions, one of which I can answer.  You asked "Why can the Recovery Plan not be used again?"  Well, simple.  In 2004 the Board of Game for Alaska's Fish and Wildlife proposed that the government SAVE money, as opposed to spending millions of dollars on this Recovery Plan again.  Their proposition was to put a $150 bounty of each wolf killed - be aware that they not need bring the whole wolf, only a paw - but that most Alaskan hunters could not fly, and did not own, a plane.   Putting a bounty on a wolf would bring in revenue (Eco-tourism!) to Alaska by hiring out-of-town (wealthy) ariel outiftters to fly these hunters around.   The Gov wouldn't lose money, only gain this way.

I'd like to mention something that no one has emphasized on yet, and that is WHO is running this kill.  It is not only the Dept. of Fish and Game, but go up on step and you will find that it is SOLEY being proposed by the Board of GAME!  Who, oddly enough, is made up of big game hunters.

Here is something that happened to me a few months back, this will give some of you an example of what type of Government officials that we have behind the board "protecting" our wildlife - and this is nationwide, ask ANY biologist!!  ...

We have feral horses here in my area.  I am in the process of trying to have them protected, but in oder to do this I must approach the HEAD of the Ministry of Environment.  Here is what was said, and PLEASE, let it be known that this is NOT a first, as I have spoken to many biologists over the years and this is the same bull they get on a continuous basis.  Mike, head of the MOE here tells me, "The moose population has been declining the last three years due to the horses."  

I ask why.  

Mike tells me "The moose and the horses are competing for food, and the moose are starving."  

My reply to Mike, "How is it that the moose and the horses are competing when moose are FORAGERS and horses are GRAZERS?"   Mikes reply to me was "Ma'am, I am not going to continue to argue with you about this, good-day."    

Mike WAS kind enough to tell me in the beginning of our conversation (before he knew my motive) that he was an avid big-game hunter.  

What some people fail to see when you read between the lines is that within the last THREE years, not only here in Canada but also in Alaska, that the moose population has declined.  Here, in my town, we'll blame the horses.  In Alaska, they'll blame the wolves.  In Wyoming, after a 10-yr long study, starvation and malnutrition were the culprits, but not before the wolf had been blamed.   This is happening EVERYWHERE that there is a population of moose and everyone is so quick to blame predation even when there has not been an increase in wolf numbers in YEARS!

This is not new.  Biologists and NWF seem that they're the only ones who have their facts straight, and as Howldine notes, READ about Haber, Mech and also Joel Berger and Gary Huschle.  These biologists are from BOTH sides fo the coin, not only wolf biologist, but moose, as well.  

Here, have a read:  http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/arti...

Again, note that he started noticing a decline in the moose population in 2003!

I've had my say, Howldine.  I've been going at this for the last two hours off and on - must leave computer time and time again chasing this baby or yelling at the dogs :)

Bottom line, Howldine, once man steps in he never ceases to **** it up!!!

*********ADD**********

I just got sent this via email from a 'friend' who thought you'd all find this interesting!

http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/prin...

ENJOY!!!!

...Peek, while you answered this post to the best of your ability, and I can see that you feel quite strongly about this up-coming wolf kill, I do not see any reason why you must post a picture of your dog.  Realistically, your dog looks no more wolf than this dog http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn283...

He's pretty, but please don't compare your domestic dog with that of a true, wild wolf.  It's an insult to them... really.  Especially when this topic already focuses on disrespect of the wolf as a species, to begin with.

Answer 8

I simply do not know enough about this to pick a side.

I do, however, know that it is very common for people to become very attached to a species of animal and be completely incapable of accepting that killing them is EVER a good thing.  Therefor, I cannot take your word at face value.  I've seen these same kinds of reactions with the African Elephant, but I also understand why it's necessary.

Be very clear, I am not calling your a liar - I simply don't know the answer to this one.

Answer 9

I completely agree. There is NO rhyme and reason for this destruction. How long does this have to go on before they too are on the endangered list?

This isn't even HUNTING! They get into a plane and exhaust the poor creatures and THEN kill them. They aren't even given a fighting chance. This isn't population control, either. Population has NEVER been a problem with Alaskan Wolves because of the vast landscape. Wolves aren't knocking on back doors, stealing livestock, or killing pets. The fluctuation in caribou is due to the migration season!

I can't even express in a logical sentence how much this DOESN'T make sense! Wolves have been balancing on a razors edge between extinction and flourishing for the past, what, 40+ years? They don't need any help from the human hand. They've been doing JUST FINE for the last million years. If they need population control, they will do so by natural elimination. Not airship gunning.

Answer 10

I am just sickened by this.

How inhumane. I have for yrs been a member of Defenders for yrs and yrs.  Wolves have been a passion of mine for all my life since a young kid. I have numerous stuffed animals and back packs galore for all the donations and memberships to help. It just never seems enough.

I hate people more each day especially when un educated decisions are made by people who don't care.

The ariel gunning , quads, snow mobiles running them to exhaustion. Then real manly shooting them from 10 feet away babies and all.

I look at my wolf  dog and wonder how could you shot this face?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

These guys are shy. They have proven speaker systems pointed away from the ranches with different wolf packs howling telling the real wolves to stay away. It works.  How much could 100 sheep or cows per yr really cost a rancher who deals in BULK ?

Its senseless and shows cruelty to our kids, why stop at killing defenseless animals..whats next ?

Answer 11

Thanks I di it. Good luck and thank you fro bringing this to my attention.