Alaska Wildlife Alliance attended the Statewide Board of Game Meeting as a voice for Alaska’s wildlife, giving testimony, mobilizing public comment on proposals, and watching deliberations. Overall, AWA submitted comments on 16 proposals. Read on for the results.
This morning at the Board of Game meeting, the ADFG requested an emergency regulation to reinstate Mulchatna bear control, which was recently found to violate due process and the sustained yield principle.
Today is a historic day for Alaska’s bears! Judge Guidi of the Superior Court of Alaska ruled in favor of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, finding that the Mulchatna Bear Control program—in which the State has aerially gunned nearly 200 brown bears —was unlawfully adopted.
Between January 10 and 17, 2025, the Central and Southwest Board of Game Meeting will be held in Wasilla at the Best Western on Lake Lucille. While the main public comment period for proposals has already passed, there is a public comment period in the first few days of the meeting, where oral testimonies and written comments may be given.
The Board of Game Proposals for the Statewide Meeting have been released and AWA is carefully combing through them so that we can best represent the needs of Alaska’s wildlife at the Statewide BOG meeting in March. The public comment period is open until March 7, and we could use your voice to help safeguard Alaskan wildlife.
After receiving substantial public opposition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will hold an additional public hearing and public comment period on controversial proposed brown bear baiting and trapping regulations in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The comment period will be reopened from October 9 to November 9 and a virtual public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for Monday, October 26 at 4:00 p.m. AKST.
Now that NPS has reversed their stance against predator control, it will be legal to shoot brown bears over piles of doughnuts and grease; to shine artificial lights into dens to kill hibernating black bears and their cubs; to shoot wolves and coyotes, and their pups, during the denning season when their pelts are in generally poor condition; and taking swimming caribou using motorboats. Our lawsuit aims to stop that.
A broad coalition of Alaska organizations issued a statement committing to “stand in solidarity for the protection of the coastal plain which provides spiritual, cultural, recreational, and economic sustenance for Alaskans and many others around the world.” This commitment remains strong, and we will not allow the violation of the coastal plain.
The Ambler Road would cut through federal public lands in the Gates of the Arctic National Preserve for the sole purpose of giving private mining companies access to undisturbed regions for hard rock mining. In permitting the Ambler Road, these agencies violated the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act and other federal laws and regulations by making final decisions based on a deeply flawed and inadequate environmental review.
Learn about the proposed management changes at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which include killing brown bears over bait, more inhumane methods of furbearer trapping, and traps and snares near hiking trails and campgrounds. John will review current refuge management, detail the proposed regulatory changes, and describe the opportunity for you to weigh in to the decision process.
“There is nothing courageous or sporting about these methods, nothing even closely resembling fair chase. These methods are not the Alaska way. And we’ve said as much: A 2018 opinion poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Alaskans support existing wildlife protection and public safety policies on Alaska refuges and preserves.”
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