You are here

Updated: Alaska 'Gunners' Wipe Out Wolf Pack From Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Share

Helicopter-borne Alaskan predator control agents have killed an entire wolf pack from Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, prompting the National Parks Conservation Association to call for "immediate suspension" of the program near the national preserve.

National Park Service officials, meanwhile, are wondering why the shooters killed two radio-collared wolves, as the Park Service had an agreement with Alaska Fish and Game officials that collared wolves would be spared as they were part of a long-term study of wolf behavior in the preserve.

“We have meetings set tomorrow with state Fish and Game officials to ask that question," John Quinley, the Park Service's assistant regional director for communications and partnerships, said Thursday evening from his Anchorage office. "Basically, 'How did this happen? You’re two days into the (predator control) program and it’s already gone against the agreement that we thought we had pretty well in place, that was easy to understand.' We’re interested in how that fell apart so fast.”

The four wolves from Yukon-Charley's Weber Creek pack were killed Wednesday in the Fortymile area on the northwest side of the national preserve, the Park Service official said.

“We’ve been studying wolf populations in Yukon-Charley for 16 years and have a long data-set to understand the population dynamics," Mr. Quinley said. "These wolves are a value scientifically and they’re a value for visitors. Our position has been that we want to do all we can to maintain the naturally functionally ecosystems, which is a value of the Alaska parklands that you don’t find everywhere else.”

NPCA officials issued a statement Thursday saying "state gunners in helicopters killed the entire Weber Creek wolf pack from Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, including two collared wolves from a 16-year National Park Service scientific study."

"NPCA calls for the immediate suspension of the state’s wolf eradication program in and around Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve until the Park Service is fully satisfied that the biological integrity of Yukon-Charley wolf packs can be evaluated and a healthy population of wolves can be ensured," the parks advocacy group added.

The shootings of the pack came despite a Park Service request that no wolves from the nine packs denning in the preserve be shot due to this year’s high natural winter mortality, NPCA officials said. Park Service officials said the killings of the radio-collared wolves was the result of some sort of miscommunication.

“It seemed like fairly clear communication to us that they weren’t supposed to shoot wolves with collars," Mr. Quinley said. "Maybe that wasn’t as clear to somebody, but it’s definitely a concern to us.

"The number of wolves that in packs which spend considerable time in the preserve is now getting down lower than we would like it to be. I think we were at 30 (individuals), and we’re at 26," he added.

Compounding the problem is that harsh conditions this winter killed 38 percent of the preserve's wolves, a percentage that Mr. Quinley said was "on the high side of normal."

The shootings come less than two weeks after a particularly contentious Alaska Board of Game meeting when it comes to wolves and national parks. While the board was asked at one point to expand a no-take wolf buffer zone in an area surrounded on three sides by Denali National Park and Preserve, the board completely removed the buffer. And the state agency also did away with a regulation that required Alaska game officials to obtain Park Service permission before they conduct any predator control on parklands.

The second action, though, likely will have little affect on park lands, said Mr. Quinley, as the Park Service maintains authority over wildlife in those areas. "Our rules," he said, "prohibit the manipulation of one species to benefit another."

For Alaska game officials, though, the preference is to do away with predators so there is more game for hunters, said Mr. Quinley.

“They want to grow more moose and caribou," the Park Service official said. "They want to do it here in the Fortymile country, they want to do it south of Denali in those game management units. ... There’s a high interest in state Fish and Game and the Board of Game to grow moose and caribou for hunters, both local hunters or those from Anchorage, Fairbanks and the lower 48.”

Friends of Animals has called for a boycott on tourism travel to Alaska this year because of the Game Board's decision to do away with the buffer zone.

Comments

DK -- like Kurt I didn't see much difference in the stories either.

The point is, they had an agreement, a lot of time and work went into putting those two collars on, a lot of work has gone into radio monitoring over the years .... and two days after the predator control kicks in, they do this? Sounds pretty testy to me, and pretty intentionally purposeful.


DKWells:
You are correct in your assumption that most Alaskans would be glad to see us tree hugging bleeding hearts from the lower 48 stay out of Alaska permanently, for one simple reason: a sizable portion of the tourism dollars go to companies, organizations and individuals that are not Alaskan. Most of the money generated by tourism does not stay in Alaska. So most Alaska residents could care less if we visit there or not. In fact, most Alaskan residents would prefer we stay away, and could we take the bothersome DOI managers and staff with us when we leave, please?
I make this bold statement having lived and worked in your state (for a federal agency), witnessing first hand the contempt that many AK residents have for the DOI and the visitors that the Federal lands attract. (A contempt that is widely shared, by the way, by the many AK residents that currently work for the DOI. Ironic, isn't it?)

Many Alaskans, still operating from the viewpoint that the Federal government stole their state away from them, will do whatever they can to ignore and thwart any national or federal agency's efforts to keep the ecosystem there in balance.
In response, I say let them manage the state's resources any way they want to. Once their wasteful hubris turns to contrite apologies (when all of their natural resources have been greedily expended) we will once again be welcome with open arms, as will all of the federal stimulus and aid they so proudly and militantly ignore now.

Now that the late Gordon Haber is no longer around to fight on the wolves' behalf, the Alaska Board of Game is going to do it's best to completely wipe out the wolf population, NOT because hunters are worried about protecting moose and caribou, but because wolf pelts are worth a lot of money. And THAT is what most Alaskans care most about: MONEY.
Shame on your hubris, shame on your greed, and shame on your state's false facade of welcome, DK.

Caveat: when I refer to Alaskans, I am referring to white Alaska residents that continue to move to the state in droves, lured by the illusion of financial wealth, and the absence of sustainable management of the wilderness.
Native Alaskan peoples I think would have a very different idea of wildlife management, if they were given the opportunity to serve in state management positions.

I have previously written formal letters (in email form) to the Governor and the Alaska Board of Game to please explain their wolf management policies and strategies. Both letters went out over two weeks ago. I have yet to receive a simple acknowledgment, let alone a substantial reply, to my questions and concerns. That should tell us all just what AK state managers feel about "outsiders" sticking our nose into their business.

But you know what, DK? Alaska doesn't belong only to the people that live there. It belongs to the entire nation, whether you like it or not. So we'll keep visiting, and we'll keep voicing our concerns about your selfish and wasteful wildlife/wilderness management decisions. I doubt our voices will be seriously considered, but we will never be silenced as long as your state management continues to operate in such a short-sighted and greed based manner.


This is so upsetting, especially since there was an agreement in place.

There's something wrong with people who kill for "fun."

The New York Times just had an article that shows evidence that people who abuse animals (and I think hunting for sport is abusing animals) often go on to attack humans. think about it. Most hunters I know tend to be bullies to begin with.

COUNT ME IN FOR BOYCOTTING TRAVEL TO ALASKA, THE LAND OF THAT NUT SARAH PALLEN.


Come on, JerseyTomato, let's be fair. Methodical slaughter conducted by paid executioners can in no way be said to resemble sport hunting.


Cowards, fun kills including collared wolves be monitored, and why? So there are more animals left to be killed by sport hunters.

[This comment was edited.]


There's a lot of difference between the "predator control" done in Alaska and the folks who go out to hunt and provide food for their families. I'm a big fan of hunters who are respectful of the animals and the environment and work to understand the natural balances required. The Alaskan DFW seems to do neither.


MB....perhaps in your comment about "letting Alaskans manage their own wildlife" you really meant to say "let the handful of wolf-haters tell the rest of Alaska to shut up". You may not have noticed but in a recent vote our (I've lived here in Fairbanks for over 40 years) Board of Game took in testimony that included a 500-signature petition from the ALASKAN residents of the Denali Park area asking the buffer zone be expanded that was NE of the park to prevent trapping of park wolves. Instead of listening to 500 ALASKANS the board voted in favor of 4 (yes, only 4) recreational (that's recreational, not subsistence) trappers to remove the buffer zones entirely.
In two votes prior to 2008 ALASKANS voted in a ban on aerial hunting. Then, in 2008 Palin approved $425k to pay for Board of Game members to travel around the state giving a highly-biased "educational" talk in favor of aerial hunting. No opposing views were allowed. Additionally, then-lt. gov. Parnell created a ballot measure so contorted in its wording that many people who thought they were voting FOR the ban actually wound up voting AGAINST the ban and so aerial hunting was allowed. It was one of the sleaziest operations yet and the Alaska Outdoor Council, whose members dominate the BOG and the Dept. of Fish and Game, were very pleased that now Alaska's wildlife can be managed for their trophy-hunting members.
Wildlife management has been hijacked here in Alaska by some of the worst of the wolf and bear haters you can imagine. Al Barrette, the most recent appointee to the BOG, is proud he holds the first aerial hunting permit. He owns a wolf trap manufacturing company and also a fur tanning company here Fairbanks. A more obvious conflict of interests could not be yet Parnell has put him in place.
Frankly, if Alaska's wildlife exists in anything approaching a normal state after the AOC gets done with it, it will be only because of federal intervention.


DKWells....

I've been a News-Miner reader since I got up here in 1969 and I can assure you when it comes to printing the truth about the wolf situation and game management in general, it couldn't do so to save its life.
Consider the fact some of its largest advertisers are members of the very groups (Alaska Outdoor Council, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Sportsmen for Habitat) that want all the wolves exterminated. Consider that Tim Mowry, their Outdoors editor, is so buddy-buddy (if not a member) with these groups that his columns sound like they went through the AOC for approval before appearing in the NM.
Consider the fact the NM has NEVER printed a piece in any way negative about these groups but consistently refers to any conservation group as "animal rights activists" knowing full well the red button that is in Alaska.
Their editorials are so full of bias and error that frankly it is with good reason the newspaper you want people to read for "the true story" is known locally as the "News Mindless", the "News Minnow", and a few other choice names civility prevents me from mentioning.
The NM is so in-bed with the AOC et al it has long forgotten what the truth is. As someone who has hunted up here, who has friends who still hunt, I am amazed at the vast difference between the pro-AOC drivel the News-Miner turns out and the facts as many ethical hunters know them to be.
The NM may have a good cartoon section, but that's about it as far as the truth goes with that publication.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.