While 58 wolves have already been killed since Saturday, there’s hope that Alaska’s Department of Fish & Game will not reach their enormous quota. Defenders of Wildlife has taken legal action that could stop the hunt immediately.
“The Board of Game did not authorize the use of helicopters by state agency personnel as part of the Upper Yukon/Tanana wolf killing program,” said Wade Willis, Alaska Representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “What they are doing in that region right now is illegal.”
The Board of Game did approve aerial hunting at their last meeting on March 9th, but Defenders of Wildlife says those regulations had not come into effect when the aerial hunt began in on March 14th. The group filed a request to immediately stop the hunt in a District Court in Anchorage
More information can be found at Defenders of Wildlife’s website.
Photo Credit: dobak on Flickr under Creative Commons license.
Nicole,
I think you misread Paul.
Paul-
I agree, perhaps the dog chaining wasn’t the best plan, but letting dogs run free in a rural area is dangerous so I understand. However the absurdity of this issue is out of hand! I live in the lower 48 myself and understand that we killed off the bison (from trains over a period of years, directly to kill Indian populations) but those killings– as the killings of wolves and mountain lions in the rockies — were in the THOUSANDS at a time, not 328. There are estimated to be 8000-11,000 wolves in Alaska, this will not hurt their population.
Finally- Wolves are dangerous and I understand the wish to hunt from planes, but I personally find it disgusting that these hunters are stooping to that level. If you are going to kill something have some balls, shoot it on its own level, not where it can barely even see you. Who are you Bill Cody?
Just go ahead and kill them all. Atleast then there won’t be any around left to suffer. We’ll join them soon enough anyways.
When our population has taken over the natural habitat of “beasts,” they have to find somewhere to flee or try to adapt to the change we’ve forced upon them. Is it not animal instinct to survive? The overpopulation of humanity, the expansion of civilization into the wild and into the predators natural habitat is the greater cause for why your dog might get devoured while “chained” in the wilderness. The wilderness is just that- the WILD… humans do not make the rules there and should not try. If you are foolish enough to live there, then you have to play by the rules of what dwelt there long before you infultrated that territory. Do not get me wrong, not everyone who establishes life in the wild continually upsets the balance, but if you are a true animal rights advocate you will understand that once you step into the wild you are just another rung on the food chain- not the alpha beast. You are merely another animal to these predators… perhaps another meal.
Side note- I do not see anyone trying to control the population of humans, which is clearly out of hand. I do not understand why humans think they have control over other animal populations when we cannot even control our own. Humans are clearly the least humane.
Also, this point is off topic, but it’s just cruel to chain any animal, ever.
Paul-
You probably shouldn’t have had your dog chained up where you know there were wolves. You are from Alaska right? Then you should know that there are wild animals all around. They shouldn’t be punished because of your mistake.
Contrary to what you wrote (“Alaska will never put a dent in wolf populations”), many wolves in the US have been hunted to extinction or near-extinction. What makes you think it couldn’t happen there?
You say we should understand the unique environment you endure, yet it seems you do not understand it yourself (you can’t tell the difference between a wolf and a bear??) – or maybe you do, but you just don’t respect it, seeing how advocate the murder of hundreds of wolves. If you knew anything about predator/prey cycles, you’d know they are there for a reason.
You say we don’t have the guts to live in your “wilderness” as you speak of your walmart. Doesn’t sound too wild if you ask me.
I’m sure there have been natives in Alaska for a long time. But there were never thousands of newcomers that brought with them guns and technology. Did you ask why these animals are no longer naturally controlled? Maybe it’s because of the influx of people into that area, completely disturbing the natural order of things.
Yes – the natural cycle did include humans. That was obviously never at the scale that it is now. So no – that is no longer a truth, and is completely invalid in your argument for exterminating a living being.
Paul – I suggest you do a little research yourself. And yes, I am a city dweller.