30/01/2025
A slightly different post from us today, but an important one.
The Alaska Board of Game recently approved Proposal 75. The proposal gives the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) the authority to remove wolves, brown bears, and black bears in parts of Game Unit 16, a wilderness area between Denali National Park and Lake Clark National Park
This proposal includes allowing ADFG to use helicopters and other aircraft to kill the animals because it applies to areas that are inaccessible by other means. The overall goal is to help hunters harvest more moose. Now that it has passed, ADFG has the authority to carry this out without public input.
People who oppose the proposal argue that the science used to justify the plan is outdated, and there will be a high cost for taxpayers with little benefit. There is also an argument that the proposal will have a negative impact on wildlife populations in and around Denali and Lake Clark National Parks, due to the proximity.
Predators are keystone species that keep ecosystems in balance, and ecosystems naturally support a certain amount of predators and prey based on available resources. Habitat quality and availability are significant factors in prey population health, outside of just predator numbers alone. This is especially true in large, open ecosystems, such as Alaska, where predator recolonization is likely after a removal like this.
Many people signed petitions and spoke out against this proposal. Advocates stress that these animals deserve protection, and efforts to challenge the program will continue. Bears and wolves may not have a voice, but humans do. The proposal passed, but humans can, and will, keep fighting to protect wildlife.
