Thought some might be interested....
Thanks.
Mike Nolan
Hi all:
I am enclosing (below) a new sign-on letter regarding the ongoing =
issues with the Alaska predator control program. It was written by Vic =
Van Ballenberghe from Alaska. This is quite consistent with the ASM =
position on predator control in Alaska and I hope that as many of us =
sign on as possible. Note that you have to go to a website in order to =
sign on (website at bottom of letter).=20
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the meeting this week.
Regards,
Steve
Steve Sheffield, Ph.D.
Department of Natural Sciences
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD 20715 USA
and
College of Natural Resources
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
National Capital Region - Northern Virginia Center
Falls Church, VA 22043 USA
T (301) 860-3309
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Governor Sarah Palin
State of Alaska
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811-0001
=20
Dear Governor Palin:
=20
As scientists and other wildlife professionals, we urge you to =
strengthen the application of science-based wildlife management to sound =
policy decisions, especially for those Alaska programs related to =
predator control. We are concerned with the potential mismanagement of =
large mammalian carnivores and their ungulate prey resulting from recent =
approval of predator control programs designed to severely reduce =
populations of gray wolves, black bears and brown bears. We strongly =
urge the State of Alaska to gather data necessary to justify, implement, =
monitor and evaluate these programs so that management practices will =
ensure sustained populations of both predators and prey.
=20
Starting in 2003 Alaska approved and implemented five predator control =
programs in interior and southcentral parts of the state designed to =
severely reduce wolves and bears in order to increase numbers of moose =
and caribou for hunters. These are lethal control programs where =
private pilots are authorized to shoot wolves with airplanes and hunters =
and trappers are encouraged to take large numbers of wolves and bears. =
These programs now total nearly 60,000 square miles of state and federal =
land. Nearly 700 wolves have been killed to date. The goal for several =
of these programs it to reduce the wolf populations by 80% of estimated =
pre-control numbers and to hold them at that level for an undetermined =
period. This is the largest predator control program since statehood.
=20
Recently, black and brown bears were targeted in one area for =
reductions of 60% by authorizing hunting methods never before practiced =
in Alaska. These include shooting of female bears with cubs, or cubs =
themselves. Liberal bear baiting regulations, year-long open seasons, =
sale of hides and skulls, and use of airplanes for spotting bears were =
also approved by the Board of Game.
=20
These actions have drawn the attention of professional wildlife =
biologists worldwide. We are aware that the American Society of =
Mammalogists has sent three letters of concern and passed a resolution =
regarding wolf management in Alaska. Issues surrounding Alaska's =
predator control were discussed in September 2006 at The Wildlife =
Society's annual meeting in Anchorage and concerns were raised over the =
scientific basis of the control programs. These concerns are based on =
knowing the end result of similar large-scale predator control programs =
in other areas of the world that were not based on sound science. =
Often, predators subject to such programs were unable to sustain viable =
populations.=20
=20
The basis of Alaska's recent predator control programs is the state's =
intensive management law. This law mandates restoring "depleted" =
ungulate populations to former levels of abundance, which were achieved =
in the 1950s and 1960s when wolves were heavily controlled, and setting =
ungulate population objectives based on these elevated populations. We =
are concerned that prey population objectives are based on unattainable =
and unsustainable populations. Accurate determination of habitat =
carrying capacity is seldom considered. The net result is to =
perpetually chase unattainable objectives with poorly designed predator =
control programs that risk long-term sustainability of ungulates, =
protection of ungulate habitat integrity, and viability of predator =
populations.=20
=20
In 1997, the National Research Council issued a report evaluating past =
predator control programs in Alaska. Included were many biological and =
economic standards and guidelines the committee recommended for future =
programs. We are concerned that many of those standards have not been =
applied in adopting the current programs. These include monitoring and =
evaluating protocols to ensure that results of the programs are clear =
and that adaptive management is used to learn as much as possible.
=20
Accordingly, we strongly urge the State of Alaska to:
=20
=B7 Re-examine the biological basis of existing predator =
control programs.
=B7 Reevaluate ungulate population objectives in relation to =
carrying capacity.=20
=B7 Monitor predator reductions with protocols having proper =
magnitude, duration and geographic extent to demonstrate clear outcomes.
=B7 Implement new control programs only within an adaptive =
management framework and revise existing programs to incorporate =
adaptive management.
=B7 Apply the National Research Council's recommended standards =
to existing programs when possible and to all proposed new programs.=20
=B7 Provide additional funding to ensure that adequate data are =
available on key components of predator-prey-habitat interactions.
=20
Finally, negative, long-term consequences of predator control may =
outweigh short-term increases in ungulate numbers. Such consequences =
include habitat damage from high ungulate populations that may result in =
population crashes of both ungulates and predators. We urge the State =
of Alaska to consider the ecological role that large predators play in =
preventing eruptions and crashes, and to consider conservation and =
preservation of predators on an equal basis with the goal of producing =
more ungulates for hunters.=20
=20
Sincerely,=20
=20
=20
Dr. Vic Van Ballenberghe
=20
=20
=20
TO SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER PLEASE GO TO:=20
=
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3DCrSVAc%2ffd7VqlrA0kOrAIXEXemgifg%=
2bM3W4s0jYJp1I%3d
=20
=20
=20
=20
----------
If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your =
number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address.
=20
After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Nolan, Director
=20
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
*************************************************************************=
**************
"Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine Ecology"
"Spanish/Cultural Immersion: Spain, Mexico, Central and South America"
Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit
P.O. Box 141543
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49514-1543 USA
Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546
Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721
Skype/MS IM: travelwithrandr
AOL IM: buddythemacaw
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED]
*Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses
Web: http://rainforestandreef.org
Costa Rica:
Juan Pablo Bello
San Jose, Costa Rica
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone: 011.506.290.8883/011.506.822.8222=20
Europe:
Marion Stephan
Frankfurt, Germany
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone: 011.49.172.305.4738
*************************************************************************=
**************
