In a stroke of luck, I recently had the incredible opportunity to witness grizzly bears in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. To say I caught a glimpse would be an understatement. These majestic creatures, as awe-inspiring as the towering Denali itself, disappeared swiftly, seemingly aware of my presence or scent before I could even steady my camera. It occurred to me that, had I been a hunter rather than a photographer, I wouldn’t have even had the chance to take a shot. However, not far away, nearly 100 brown bears (a larger, coastal variation of grizzlies) met a much less fortunate fate. They were ruthlessly killed by state game workers in the Wood-Tikchik State Park area of southwestern Alaska.
These bears stood no chance.
The massacre, which took place during May and June, targeted 94 brown bears, 5 black bears, and 5 wolves at a time when caribou were giving birth. The purpose of this killing spree, as decreed by the Alaska Board of Game, consisting of six male and one female hunters, big game guides, trappers, and fishermen appointed by the governor (not scientists), was to improve calf survival rates. State wildlife biologists, however, had presented data at the board meeting showing that the predator control program, which involved targeting wolves, had failed to benefit the caribou herd. Despite this evidence, the board voted to continue the wolf control program and extend it to include bears. The justification, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, was that “predator control is an immediate tool” that could potentially reverse the decline of the herd.
Unfortunately, this was a foolish and futile attempt to protect the rapidly declining Mulchatna caribou herd.
In 2011, the Alaska Board of Game initiated a predator control program aimed at reducing the wolf population to support the herd, which is crucial for subsistence hunting in approximately 50 remote communities within its range. Since then, over 470 wolves have been killed in the region, with more than 140 falling victim to the state’s predator control program, as reported by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Despite these efforts, the caribou herd has dwindled to 12,000 animals in 2017, compared to approximately 200,000 in 1997.
In 2020, Alaska Fish and Game biologists conducting a study on the herd made a startling discovery. Up to a third of the sampled animals were found to be suffering from brucellosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria that can lead to infertility, late-term abortions, and lameness. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the availability of adequate nutrition for the herd as researchers found significant variability in the condition of the caribou in the fall, particularly in lactating females with lower levels of fat. Killing wolves has not made a difference in reversing these trends. In fact, dead wolves can no longer fulfill their vital role in maintaining herd health by culling sick caribou. While bears, whose diet largely consists of protein-rich plants, may prey on caribou calves, there is little evidence to suggest that this significantly impacts overall herd populations. In fact, 34 retired Alaska scientists and wildlife managers emphasized in an opinion piece for The Anchorage Daily News that “bear control is unlikely to substantially increase caribou numbers given current nutrition, disease, and illegal harvest issues.”
Historically, caribou herd populations have experienced natural cyclic fluctuations. However, in recent times, herds across North America have witnessed a dramatic decline due to climate change, habitat loss, hunting, and disease. The ongoing study on the Mulchatna herd in Alaska revealed that out-of-season hunting was the leading cause of death among adult females, and there was no significant evidence to suggest that predators, such as wolves and bears, posed a significant threat to adult caribou.
Like many other visitors to Denali National Park, I ventured into the wilderness in search of adventure, marveling at the sight of caribou and moose, and even stumbling upon wolf tracks. I also had hopes of capturing photographs of bears, just like the ones featured by the State of Alaska to promote tourism. It perplexes me how state tourism officials and the Alaska Board of Game can work against each other.
Dr. Gary Kofinas, an emeritus professor of resource policy at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, expressed his disdain for the board’s actions, describing the plan to exterminate bears as “shameful.” He noted that the decision was made with little data, lack of scientific review, minimal opportunity for public input, and a complete disregard for the implications to the entire ecosystem. The killing program may have concluded for this season, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game intends to review the results and determine whether further reductions in bear and wolf populations during the spring calving season are necessary. Multiple lawsuits have already been filed in an attempt to halt these senseless killings. However, predator control programs are set to continue in the region until 2028.
Tony Knowles, a former governor of Alaska, joins the voices calling for an end to the predator control program. He decries the Mulchatna massacre and argues that it should serve as a wake-up call for how we manage wildlife and its impact on the environment. Knowles insists that Alaska must reform its outdated Intensive Management Law from 1994, which grants the Board of Game the authority to reduce bear and wolf populations when moose, caribou, and deer numbers decline. Last fall, a study published in the journal Diversity by three wildlife biologists raised doubts about the effectiveness of this approach. The study found no increase in moose harvests in a region in south-central Alaska after predators were targeted. The authors argue for a more comprehensive wildlife management approach, one that takes into account factors beyond just hunting.
One of the authors of the study, Sterling Miller, served as a research wildlife biologist for the state for two decades. In an interview with Alaska Public Media, he criticized the lack of sufficient analysis and even accused the state’s fish and game and wildlife conservation agencies of misleading the public regarding the success of these programs.
As I caught that fleeting glimpse of the grizzlies in Denali before they vanished into thin air, I couldn’t help but realize that our wilderness and our nation would be bereft without bears. Our country’s wildlife, including wolves and caribou, now rely on us as much as we rely on them.
The predator control efforts in Alaska hark back to a cruel and unscientific mindset from the 19th century that viewed bears and wolves as malevolent forces rather than sentient beings crucial to maintaining ecological balance. These animals deserve wise protection, and the practice of killing bears and wolves to boost game populations must come to an end.
Jon Waterman, a former Denali National Park and Preserve ranger and author of National Geographic’s “Atlas of the National Parks” and the forthcoming “Atlas of Wild America,” passionately supports this cause.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
