Managers try to balance interests of hunters, wildlife watchers.
Gov. Tony Knowles and state wildlife managers support a predator control program for McGrath that could lead to state agents shooting wolves from helicopters, Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Frank Rue told the Alaska Board of Game on Sunday. Rue urged the Game Board, when it meets again today, to adopt a series of proposals to authorize a tiered approach to predator control around McGrath. The plan restricts moose hunting and encourages locals to kill more bears and wolves as biologists continue to study the problem. If research shows those measures aren't doing enough and that wolves are causing the moose population to decline, aerial shooting of wolves could start as soon as next winter. That issue is also expected to come up for a vote today, on the second day of the board's two-day meeting.