| The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has sunk to a new procedural and, I believe, ethical low in its bear snaring proposals for the upcoming special Board of Game meeting Oct. 8-12 in Anchorage. By attempting to classify black bears as "furbearers" in areas where it wishes to implement control of these predators, the department seeks to bypass the board's normal process of drafting a formal predator control implementation plan. In so doing they can avoid gathering population data, providing proof of the necessity of predator control, and publicizing the plan.
Is this sound science? The department has long enjoyed tremendous credibility in the eyes of the public for its science-based management of wildlife, yet its actions of late make it appear that the politics of out-of-state trophy hunting groups has trumped science. The department has shown its true colors with these blatant proposals. How long can it maintain its scientific credibility and continue to enjoy the support of Alaska residents who have been left out of the process?
-- Linda Donegan,
Alaska Wildlife Alliance
Anchorage
Wolf Song of Alaska
P.O. Box 770950
Eagle River AK 99577-0950
Phone: (907) 622-9653
Fax: (907) 622-9654
e-Mail: wolfsong@alaska.com
Web Site: http://www.wolfsongalaska.org
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