Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, on Friday blasted state snaring and aerial wolf hunting policies, including a recent 4-3 Board of Game decision to shrink a ban on wolf trapping outside the eastern boundaries of Denali National Park and Preserve.
French, a candidate for governor, also criticized the recent appointments of Corey Rossi as the state’s new wildlife conservation director and Al Barrette to the state Board of Game.
Many groups have criticized Gov. Sean Parnell’s recent appointment of Rossi, though the governor told reporters Thursday that he’d back the choice. French told a group of wildlife advocates Friday that Rossi “does not have the qualifications to do the job” and said the appointment would erode internal and public support for state wildlife policy in general. He said recent state wildlife management policies generally, and inappropriately, cede scientific justification to the desires of hunters. |
