Alaska Wolf Kill Program Hits Tourism - Anchorage Daily News

[hatrack]

"Despite finger-numbing cold as low as 55 below in Glennallen, private pilots shot and killed another 16 wolves in the state-sponsored Nelchina basin predator control program last weekend, bringing their total to 30.

Though the wolf kill cheers hunters who hope to see more moose and caribou in the area as a result of fewer predators, it is painful news to at least some people in the tourism industry. Mark Reiser, owner of a Wasilla-based company called Outdoors Alaska, said a major client canceled its reservations last week and is instead going to Costa Rica. Another large group also changed plans, citing the state predator control.

"This program and this national boycott are devastating my business," Reiser said. "I'm a very small business, so the $30,000 in gross revenue is fairly significant to me."

Animal rights groups began threatening a tourism boycott late last year as state game managers turned up the heat on predator control. The Alaska Board of Game eventually approved a plan for private pilots to shoot about 40 wolves near McGrath, using shotguns from airplanes. To date, poor weather has prevented any kills. A second program would remove roughly 140 wolves from Game Management Unit 13, the Nelchina basin, using a method known as land-and-shoot. Pilots spot the animals from the air, then land their airplanes, hop out and fire using rifles."

EDIT

http://www.adn.com/front/story/4700955p-4652043c.html

[ajacobson]

1. Props to you for posting this

I am opposed to the wolf kill anyway but land-and-shoot is virtually the same as canned hunts--grotesque and offensive.

[Tyler Durden]

2. Sending this to Anchorage Daily News:

To Joel Gay, Anchorage Daily News:

Sir:

It is with the greatest disgust that I learned of the state of Alaska's state sponsored "Wolf Kill" program. In catering to the needs of a few rich, blood-crazy, testosterone overdosed throwbacks for surplus caribou to blast away at with their hand held cannons, you have alientated the vast majority of us in the "Lower 48."

We had assumed that your state held the wilderness in trust for the rest of us, and now we see that your Republican Administration has no more regard for our natural heritage that they do down here.

You may expect re-education in the form of many more boycotts of Alaskan services, products, and legislative interests until you decide to re-enter the 21st century.

XXXXXX