Friday, March 12, 2010

Worst Week for Alaska Wolves

As long as I have lived in Alaska now, I have never seen such a ridiculously bad week for the Alaskan wolves.
First of all, Denali National Park and various organizations had requested the Alaska Game Board to extend the wolf buffer outside Denali Park. In other words--wolves that are watched (and even radio collared) in Denali would be able to roam outside park boundaries without fear of trapping. But no, the Board of Game voted instead to REDUCE the buffer for the most viewed wolves in Alaska--hence increasing the chance for them to be trapped instead of having a tourist photograph them. The crazy part of this, is the reasons the "so-called-adults" on the Alaska Game Board gave for this decision.
One reason: "Why would someone from New York want to see a wolf that comes right up to a tour bus?" Secondly: "The feds and wildlife organizations have pushed us too far". So in effect they are saying--we will not protect these wolves because:
A) we are too narrow minded to understand city people.
B) out of spite to the Feds.
Next comes the appointment of the new head of Alaska Wildlife conservation--who's only mission is to maximize species for hunting them down--and therefore more wolf shooting (known as predator control).
Lastly, the Alaskan wolves themselves decided--"well hey, everyone hates us this week anyway, so lets do a heinous act to show just how bad-ass we really can be". And they proceeded to eat a lower 48 school teacher that was out jogging in a remote Alaskan village. My condolences to the family. But note to anyone coming to Alaska--you can not jog around predators (or even loose dogs) they have a chase instinct! I wish someone could have warned the poor girl.

The Alaska Department of Wildlife Conservation needs to be contacted, as well as the tour companies (www.Princesslodges.com & www.Graylinealaska.com) two of the biggest with financial stakes in wolf viewing, especially around Denali. They need to lobby the state to protect opportunities for tourists to view wildlife.

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