The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has asked the USFWS to allow it to kill wolves from airplanes and/or helicopters on Unimak Island, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. ADF&G claims this action is necessary to save the caribou herd on the island.
However, the facts are against ADF&G:
1. The bull:cow ratio is down to 5:100, a situation caused by trophy hunting allowed by ADF&G as recently as 2009.
2. Wolves are being used as scapegoats in this issue, and on a refuge owned by all Americans - a refuge that should be managed as a natural system with its natural fluctuations.
3. Aerial killing in this refuge is being strongly supported by trophy hunting groups such as the NRA, the Alaska Outdoor Council, and Sportsmen for Fish/Wildlife.
4. Natural recruitment of caribou from the nearby mainland has happened in the past when the population has gone to zero.
5. Area residents use the refuge herd very little, relying mainly on a seafood diet and hunting the easier terrain of the mainland.
6. This is a foot-in-the-door effort for Alaska to use aerial hunting on all federal lands in Alaska, a goal of Sarah Palin.
Please sign to oppose aerial wolf killing on federal land in Alaska!
Also, using the above points and your own comments, please send e-mail to
fw7_izembek_planning@fws.gov by January 31st.
And an e-mail to any or all of the following will also help:
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Dept. of Interior: feedback@ios.doi.gov
Ken Salazar: kensalazar@ios.doi.gov
Additional information can be found at http://akwildlife.org/
Remember: As an American, this is YOUR refuge under attack. Please take action to protect it!
