From: National Wildlife Federation <nwfnatl%igc.apc.org@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Subject: Alaskan Aerial Wolf Hunt
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 21:13:50 GMT



----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Dear Student Activists,

As we're sure you've heard, the state of Alaska recently announced plans for
aerial shooting of wolves on 43,000 square miles of south central and interior
Alaska.  This area contains over 700 wolves and the plan calls for up to 80%
of these to be killed over a five-year period.  The stated reason for the hunt
is to rapidly increase moose and caribou numbers, providing greater viewing
opportunities for tourists and more game for "subsistence" hunters.  The area
already contains 70,000+ caribou and 35,000+ moose, and under current Alaskan
law, ALL residents qualify as subsistence hunters.  The plan also affects PUBLIC
lands - lands that belong to EVERY American citizen, not just Alaskans.

The good news is that overwhelming pressure from conservation groups, the
tourism industry, and citizens across the nation has caused Alaskan Governor
Walter Hickel to "postpone indefinitely" the aerial hunt set to begin in
January.  Unfortunately, this is not the definite shelving of the ADF&G plan
that has been sought by Audobon, the National Wildlife Federation, and many
others.  It may, in fact, simply be a smoke screen to ease public pressure
on those proposing the shooting.  Therefore, until we win a permanent
abandonment of the Department's plan, we must not let down our guard for a
moment.  Letters and phone calls must continue to pour in to the governor's
office.

We consider this plan to be biologically unjustifiable for a number of reasons.
First, the state does not have adequate data on wolves in Alaska upon which to
base such radical control plans.  Second, the plan calls for intensive wolf
control even in areas where moose and caribou numbers are, by the state's own
account, at "high density".  Third, the plan assumes that wolves are a key
factor in moose mortality, while their own studies indicate that up to 90% of
moose predation results from bears.  The same studies state that past wolf
control did not measurably increase moose in the long run.  Finally, a state
appointed Wolf Management Planning Team spent significant amounts of time and
taxpayer dollars to study this issue; the team recommended that wolf control
should "not be common practice" and that intensive management should take
place only on a small portion of most game management units.  This plan
completely disregards the work of the team, showing a distinct lack of good
faith and contempt for the public process.

While we are glad that our (the environmental community) efforts, combined
with an outpouring of public outrage, have resulted in the plan's indefinite
postponement, our efforts now must be to get it permanently canceled.  If you
have not already done so, please address a letter to Governor Hickel
expressing your opposition to this outrageous hunt:
                Governor Walter J. Hickel
                PO Box A
                Juneau, AK  99811-1010
                Tel:  (907) 465-3500

Your letters and calls DO make a difference.  Thank you for your support.

Dianell Dreibelbis
Midwest Endangered Species Campus Organizer
(313) 769-6960

Tim Stevens
Western Endangered Species Campus Organizer
(303) 786-8001

Amy Casselberry
Northeast Endangered Species Campus Organizer
(202) 797-6618

Dana McDaniel
Southcentral Endangered Species Campus Organizer
(303) 786-8001

Micheal Kenney
Southeast Endangered Species Campus Organizer
(404) 876-7756


Give us a call if we can be of ANY assistance.  Printed postcards are available
for a quick letter writing campaign.  Thanks for your continual support.  A
special thanks to Josh Knauer for keeping everyone posted on this issue.
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive,soc.politics