Sarah Palin: Stop the Aerial Killing of Wolves!

Dear Governor Palin,

As a supporter of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and someone who cares about sound wildlife management, I strongly urge you to withdraw your support for the use of aircraft to hunt and kill Alaska's wolves and bears.

Alaska is well known for its amazing wildlife and stunning natural beauty. It is appalling that your office and others in the state government continue to sanction the brutal aerial killing of the state's majestic wolves and bears in nearly 60,000 square miles of the state.

As I am sure you are aware, aerial hunting was outlawed by the federal government in 1972. Yet Alaska officials continue to skirt the law and permit aerial hunting, claiming that this terrible practice is necessary for wildlife management -- an assertion that is not supported by available data on wildlife population numbers.

This unwarranted program often leads to inhumane deaths, with hunters in low-flying aircraft shooting down wolves or chasing them to exhaustion, and landing and killing the animal at close range. In some cases, wounded wolves escape, only to experience a slow, painful death.

I'm even more concerned that your Administration appears to be escalating efforts to kill wolves in your state, with your Board of Game has also recently approving the use of poison gas and deadly snares to kill defenseless wolf pups and their families in and around their dens.

These efforts are an embarrassment to the State of Alaska. It's past time that state officials adopt a more reasonable approach to wolf management.

Thank you for considering my comments.