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Wolflines is a bulletin of Defenders of Wildlife designed to serve wolf organizations and advocates. Bulletins are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily represent the positions of all organizations mentioned. © Defenders of Wildlife 2000
Action Alert: Alaska Wolf Control Programs Pending Under new, intensive management legislation passed last September, the Alaska Board of Game authorized the use of same-day airborne wolf shooting methods by wildlife agents in cases of wildlife shortages. Under this revised legislation, the Alaska Board of Game has authorized two wolf control programs: one in the McGrath area west of Denali park and the other in the Nelchina basin in central Alaska (northeast of Anchorage). Both programs must still be approved by Governor Knowles (D) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and will ultimately be judged by three standards the governor established before they can move forward: scientific adequacy, cost effectiveness and public acceptability. To date, there is no conclusion that there is broad public support for either wolf-control program, but pressure is coming from native and sportsman’s groups, forcing the governor to take a hard look at this from a political standpoint. If these programs are approved, they will likely involve aerial shooting of several hundred wolves this winter. McGrath Program Last month, a wolf-control program was authorized in the McGrath area of southwestern Alaska. The governor’s office is evaluating the proposal and it will not begin without the governor’s approval. Though the Alaska Board of Game viewed this as a biological emergency, it remains to be revealed if ADFG agrees. The five native villages involved are getting fewer moose than they want, however other factors such as weather, poaching and black bear predation are also affecting the moose populations. Shooting a few dozen wolves may not accomplish anything if other factors are more important. Nelchina Basin Program The Nelchina Basin control program is headed back to the Board of Game for final approval on March 3, 2000. The board requested more public input before final authorization. After that, it will still need approval from ADFG and the governor before it can begin. This program is on thin ice. There is no biological emergency with either moose or caribou and there are serious questions about whether the habitat can even withstand higher numbers of ungulates. Like the McGrath situation, bear predation is also a factor (though from brown bears, not black) and there are questions of public acceptance and overall cost. What You Can Do: We need to keep letters and calls (particularly from Alaska residents) coming in to Governor Knowles’ office opposing the McGrath and Nelchina programs for the reasons given above. Mailing addresses and phone and fax numbers for his Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Washington, DC, offices are available at http://www.gov.state.ak.us/phone.html. Denali Update The Denali wolf situation has not changed. To date, the state has not established a protected area adjacent to the park to buffer the key park’s wolf packs at the eastern end. The National Park Service has not pushed the issue so the only pressure is coming from the public. The issue will be discussed again at the next Board of Game meeting March 3. Karlyn Berg of Coaltion to Protect Predators requested that we post the following: Minnesota Alert: Stop the War on Wolves! The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a proposed wolf bill that calls for a liberal wolf-killing policy, even more liberal than the wolf-killing bill that the MN House of Representatives passed last year. This DNR bill includes a bounty, widespread "predator-control" areas and allows indiscriminate killing by landowners throughout the state. This bill is expected to be introduced in the state Senate and merged with last year's bad House wolf bill in a conference committee. We also expect that the terrible "roundtable bill" may resurface. Our coalition of Minnesota groups who served on the roundtable request that you write the DNR and tell them to oppose their current plan and the original roundtable agreement. Neither bill is in the best interest of the wolf. The wolf should not be delisted until the state of Minnesota produces an ecologically sound management plan based upon preservation of biodiversity, environmental ethics and responsible stewardship. Your Letters and Calls Are Needed! Make sure to state that you oppose ANY bill that includes the threats listed above. For more information on what points need to be addressed, e-mail the Coalition to Protect Predators at karlyn@uslink.net or lhatefate@aol.com. Please write your Minnesota legislators, Governor Jesse Ventura, Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; The Honorable Governor Jesse Ventura Bruce Babbitt Donald J. Barry The Association of Sanctuaries (Taos) Accreditation of refuges and sanctuaries is extremely important: It both encourages high standards and recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to providing quality animal care. It also provides extra credibility in the eyes of funders and the surrounding community. The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS) is an organization that offers an accreditation system and encourages collaboration among accredited, member sanctuaries. Established eight years ago, TAOS strives to improve the quality of life for captive animals and to ensure the quality of facilities taking care of them. Membership to TAOS also offers access to experts in the areas of animal care, fundraising, board development and grant preparation; referral and emergency financial assistance for rescue and transfer of animals in need; and protocols for animal care and enclosure construction for a variety of species. Group insurance (for members) at discounted rates is currently being discussed with an agent. Defenders of Wildlife encourages all refuges and sanctuaries to consider accreditation with TAOS. For more information, visit http://www.taosanctuaries.org/ or email TAOS Executive Director, Craig Brestrup, at taosanctuaries@itexas.net. Would you like to escape your everyday life and do something wild? Join Defenders of Wildlife on a wolf-watching trip in Yellowstone National Park at one of the best times of year to see wolves in action. Trip leader Dr. Jim Halfpenny is an outstanding naturalist and expert tracker who has worked in the Yellowstone area for more than two decades. You will study wolf behavior by tracking and observing wolves and their prey and discuss how wolves are managed and what their future will be. Defenders staffers will accompany the group for part of each trip. These trips are not strenuous and are suitable for people of all ages. Join us for the experience of a lifetime! There are two trips to choose from: March 4-10, 2000 ($1,250) and April 13-17, 2000 ($1,150). The cost includes all meals and lodging but airfare to Bozeman, Montana is not included. To register and receive more information, visit www.tracknature.com, call (406) 848- 9458, or write: A Naturalist’s World, Box 989, Gardiner, MT 59030. Timber Wolf Alliance Announces 2000 Poster Contests The Timber Wolf Alliance is calling for entries in two Wolf Awareness Week poster contests this year. Both the 11th annual regional Wolf Awareness Week contest and the third annual national Wolf Awareness Week contest are open to original amateur or professional artwork in any two-dimensional medium. Entries in the regional contest must show the eastern timber wolf in its natural environment. Entries in the national contest may show any subspecies of wolf currently found in the United States. The deadline for submissions for both contests is April 6, 2000. The winning entries will appear on up to 50,000 posters which will be distributed regionally and nationally to highlight Wolf Awareness Week, held October 15 to 21, 2000. Posters will be distributed to the general public as well as schools, libraries, community centers, natural resource agencies, zoos and environmental organizations. The poster contributes to the Timber Wolf Alliance’s goal of increasing awareness and understanding of both the timber wolf and of regional and national wolf recovery and management efforts. For a contest application and copy of the competition guidelines, call Pam Troxell at (715) 682-1490 or write the Timber Wolf Alliance, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College, Ashland, WI 54806. Northwest Carnivore Education Workshops on Slate for May Defenders of Wildlife is collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wolf Haven International and the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance to develop and present workshops on "Living with Carnivores" at five locations in Washington State this spring. Locations are expected to be in Sedro Woolley, Winthrop, Spokane, Seattle and the Wenatchee- Leavenworth area. The workshops will feature speakers from each participating organization and other regional wildlife-carnivore experts on the region’s five major carnivores: black bear, grizzly bear, cougar, wolves and coyotes. Topics covered will be: Importance to ecosystems, interrelationships with other carnivores, human safety and tips for minimizing conflict between humans and carnivores. The workshops are of special interest to folks interested in outdoor recreation or who work and live in “carnivore country.” Defenders' Washington field staff are looking for volunteers to assist with the workshops. If interested, call Dr. Gerry Ring Erickson at (360) 427-2887 Location, workshop dates and registration information will be posted once details are finalized. Opening at Defenders: Northern California Outreach Coordinator Defenders is looking for an individual familiar with wolf restoration in California and Defenders' role in wolf recovery to operate the wolf education booth in northern California. The booth will travel to both indoor and outdoor forums throughout summer and early fall. Duties include educating the public about wolf recovery in northern California, developing a regional electronic network of wolf activists, promoting memberships, selling merchandise, collecting signatures on petitions, coordinating booth logistics before and during events and recruiting and supervising all booth volunteers. This position also involves presenting public lectures on U.S. wolf recovery, handling inquiries about Defenders in California and numerous other tasks as assigned. This is a temporary, full-time position and will begin in March or April and extend through September. To view the full job description and application instructions, please click here.
Wolflines is a bulletin of Defenders of Wildlife designed to serve wolf organizations and advocates. Bulletins are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily represent the positions of all organizations.
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