A Coalition To End Aerial Gunning of Wildlife
Aerial Wolf Killing in Alaska
The state of Alaska has a long history of killing wolves, where they are not
protected under the Endangered Species Act. In the 1940s and 1950s, widespread
wolf control occurred through poisoning, bounties and aerial shooting by
federal agents. After Alaska became a state in 1959, poisoning was prohibited
by legislative action and bounties were soon stopped. Aerial shooting of wolves
became common in the 1960s. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game ceased
issuing aerial permits in 1972 after passage of the federal airborne hunting
act. The Act prohibits the shooting of wolves directly from airplanes but it
did not illegalize the practice known as "land and shoot" where a hunter can
land a plane and shoot the animal from the ground.
Land and shoot wolf hunting is a controversial practice even opposed by many
hunters because it is considered unsportsmanlike, unethical and nearly
impossible to regulate. It also leads to many other violations of hunting
regulations such as chasing, herding and harassing wolves. In 1996 and in 2000
Alaskan voters banned the practice.
Over the past several years, the Alaskan legislature worked to overturn the
referendum. In 2003, the Board of Game approved two aerial based wolf control
programs. During the winter and spring of 2004, 147 wolves were killed under
these two programs. At its spring meeting, the Alaska Board of Game approved
two additional programs. Next season, 500 wolves are slated to be aerial gunned
in the 4 control areas. Each of the programs will last 4 to 5 years, meaning
that thousands of wolves could ultimately be killed.
To learn more about this issue and what you can do to help, please visit the
Defenders of Wildlife "Wolves in Alaska" page at www.savealaskawolves.org
Alaskan wolf shot by aerial gunner