Friday, May 24, 2013
Weather
Moose Shortage on the Kenai Peninsula; Habitat or Predatory Related?Aerial wolf control on the Kenai Peninsula: a controversial solution to low moose populations is just one of the proposals that has state biologists and environmental and animal conservation groups on opposite ends.
If you’ve visited the Kenai Peninsula lately, you may not have seen as many moose as usual.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the bull-to-cow ratio is currently below department standards, and moose populations on some parts of the peninsula have been low for nearly a decade. State biologists said it’s a shortage partially caused by poor habitat. "There simply isn't enough food to support the moose to take us within objective levels,” said Mark Burch, ADF&G regional supervisor. But there’s another explanation as well. Because of an increase in Kenai Peninsula wolf populations, Burch said the department and the Alaska Board of Game are considering an aerial wolf control program to bring the moose population back up to an acceptable level. It’s a big decision. "We certainly take any kind of wolf control or predator control seriously,” Burch said. “We understand that it means killing animals and we never take that lightly." In previous years, aerial wolf control programs have drawn fire from environmental and animal conservation groups nationwide. "We think that people living on the Kenai and people that live in Anchorage have a strong interest in this issue,” said Theresa Fiorino, Alaska representative for the Defenders of Wildlife. “Because this is so close to very dense population centers, we think that there should be a lot of interest in this issue." Fiorino said there’s not necessarily a need for a predator control program and called on state officials to consider other habitat-related solutions. But Burch said there are two sides to every story. “Moose hunting and eating moose meat is an essential part of Alaskan culture,” he said. “That's where the board will be faced with that dilemma." As the board prepares to make a decision during its upcoming November meeting, it’s one that will be watched closely by Alaskans on both sides of the aisle. |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
CHARLENE said on Thursday, May 10 at 11:38 AM
CONTROLLING WOLF POPULATION IS WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!! DO NOT KILL UR MEAN IF YOU DO SUCH A THING. NO KILLING PLEASE!
90382866charlene said on Thursday, May 10 at 11:36 AM
i have a love for all animals though dont kill wolves or any for that matter. they are all wonderful creatures. i agree LEAVE WOLVES ALONE WAY TOO MANY ARE BEING KILLED THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, AND HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO LIVE AS ANY OTHER CREATURE OR HUMANE ON EARTH. WOLVES ARE AWESOME.
90382586larry Bryant said on Wednesday, Oct 12 at 9:28 AM
In a study done a few years ago it was found that black bears killed a lot of moose calf's. Black bear and wolves both kill there share of moose.The habitat is also a problem.
75183312jd said on Wednesday, Oct 12 at 8:46 AM
Falling harvest of moose. Maybe the hunters are lazier and fatter now-a-days. Not all, but the majority. If I have to hike then there must not be any legal bulls. 2011 was best year yet for me on the Kenai! Yeah I was once again sore from the long hike.
75180877Big Dan said on Tuesday, Oct 11 at 2:11 PM
Eat moose, 12,000 wolf's can't be wrong. And while your at it, knock over a few bears too.
75140768resident said on Monday, Oct 10 at 5:15 PM
I recall it wasn't that long ago that they were trapping wolf in the interior, were to many, and releasing them on the kenai pennisula
75087357Norma Jean said on Monday, Oct 10 at 11:30 AM
I think controlling the wolf population is a good idea, because their killing off all the moose on the Peninsula, I love wolves, but their taking all my meat. I'm an Alaskan and was raised on wildlife, not beef. So in order to feed my family, I would have to do what is right to keep my family from starving.
75069617lork said on Monday, Oct 10 at 10:05 AM
If we 'manage' a population of wolves, for example, that means we will have to 'manage' the impact of that on other wildlife. Wolves kill to kill - not just to eat... That affects populations of moose, caribou, people, etc. We are blessed with a great variety of wildlife, but to manage one, means you have to manage all impacts on other populations. Wolf control related to moose/caribou, etc., populations has been done since time began, because people need food - as in moose and caribou. Anyone who has spent a great deal of time in the wilderness has seen wolves simply kill caribou and moose, and leave their carcasses. So not doing something about those wolves, whose populations can soar - damages other populations that Alaskans rely on to survive.
75065303lork said on Monday, Oct 10 at 10:00 AM
Any time an animal population is controlled, such as the lack of wolf hunting, populations can sky rocket - which undermines the natural order. That means that if you allow one population (wolves) to grow - who kill just to kill - not just for food - other populations are adversely impacted. Simple. If you 'manage' a population of an animal who impacts another animal - you're going to have to keep making adjustments. It is a simple law of nature, whether anyone likes it or not.
75065028Greg said on Saturday, Oct 8 at 10:36 PM
I studied wildlife some in school and later in life. Studies do not support killing predators to manage wildlife. It is not cost affective, desired effect is short term, probable over productive population further exacerbates environment, and pop tends to become generally smaller. Often, man will destroy what it loved. Even though I love hunting, I hate bad hunting more. Wolves should not be killed this way. F&G has failed to meet their obligations and this is their only politically acceptable way to proceed. It makes me laugh because it reminds me of pheasant hunting in Illinois. The state would release pheasants into the field just before hunting day. What a joke! Before Russia's arrival or the Americans, was the pop in trouble from wolves that have been here long before us? Nope, this is a man made problem with Airplanes, high power rifles, 4x4's, guided tourists, poachers, and habitat changes.
75001243zeb said on Saturday, Oct 8 at 6:18 PM
i wouldn't be surprised it was poaching. lots of two-legged wanna be mountain men dogs in Alaska. wolves kill the weak not the strong and don't overpopulate an area.
74995436Poofeelia Oomph said on Saturday, Oct 8 at 4:02 PM
The South American large rodent,Capybara..can be raised and harvested as a source of good nutritious meat for human consumption.
74991667watchnwait said on Saturday, Oct 8 at 11:53 AM
this reporter didn't do a very good job investigating. she says "there could be another cause, increasing wolves on the Kenai" but ADFG never said that was even a problem. They said it was habitat (and too many bulls being hunted). This story also tries to emphasize that ADFG and enviros are on opposite side, but that's not even true. Mark Burch said something about the "tradition of eating moose" but just because there is a tradition doesn't mean we can get as much moose as we want or that ADFG thinks wolves are the problem. As a hunter I recognize that the habitat is trashed on the Kenai - we need fire. I also recognize that we've been taking too many bulls in the south. Killing wolves won't fix either of these problems and could make things worse.
74984663pb said on Friday, Oct 7 at 9:51 AM
i think it's a shame that we always blame the other animals on our problems, when it comes to the moose population. fist of all, we know that there is not enough browse left for the moose to sustain the large moose population of years ago. secondly, how many moose exactly do we kill with our cars every season besides hunting them? do you really think that killing the wolf and bear will increase the moose population to the numbers of years ago? no way! yeah, the culture in alaska is to hunt and to eat moose, but i am sure that wolves and bears would love to keep living, too. they are part of alaskan culture!!!
74928972Qanertua said on Friday, Oct 7 at 7:30 AM
The moose are migrating to the West side of Alaska. Same thing for beavers...
74919699rick said on Friday, Oct 7 at 7:11 AM
You people that dont think its the bears , never get off your couch!there are so many brown bears out there its appalling that we cant thin them out! You tree hugging peta fanatics go back to california or where ever u moved up from.
74918499vb said on Friday, Oct 7 at 7:05 AM
lh u are right, it always have been us, the humans, if it wouldve been wolves and bears, then moose should ve been extinct before the w. man came to alaska. we are overpopulating the kenai peninsula and the moose are not deer, they dont breed like rats. if u go out north u can see moose everywhere with wolves and bears, no problem, but there is barely any hunters and towns, were u see a big town or city, there are no moose left! control hunting here so the moose can thrive, no wildlife people have noo clue what they do!!
74918097Pike Ainsworth said on Friday, Oct 7 at 6:53 AM
Funny i've been telling Fish and Game that for years and they still have a shotgun cow hunt in Homer, Fish and Game destroys fishing and hunting for everyone and uses our money to do it.
74917243tom said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 11:53 PM
One post got it right, Aslong as peopple are going hungrey And the goverment wont feed the peopple The peopple are not going to let there familleys starve Get the fat cats that have it bouth ways the goverment.
74903539Anonymous said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 10:01 PM
LH...it isn't hunters or not wolves by themselves that are killing the moose population, in our hunting area you can literally watch the bears in action on the calves!!! Maybe we should do something about that, not that I have anything against bears, but since we are their only preditor, maybe it is time to stpe in and do some population control
74902022Ohbediah Smench said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 9:56 PM
I say,bring back the wolley mammoth.Or make the hoary marmoths really big so theres lots of meat;then we can hunt them.Yeah,thats it.
74901962BL said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 8:51 PM
people who believe that wolves and bears are creating a moose shortage are similar to those that believe the earth is 6000 y/o and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs
74900887Alaskan said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 8:46 PM
Bears and cars and trains are killing most of the baby moose and moose in the Kenai. We can do something about the bears today.
74900773Rick said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 8:19 PM
When are we gonna quit bending to the tree huggers and let our Game bioligists and other learned folks do their jobs. Wolves AND Bears are becoming a real problem ( STATEWIDE) , It,s time to quit whining about who thinks what and do what is right for our moose AND Caribou herds
74900227Annie said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 8:18 PM
Maybe LH should speak with a local biologist. Do you have any idea what the growing wolf population is on the Kenai Peninsula or how many moose a single wolf will kill in a year, regardless of need/hunger? Your point of reference is traffic on Escape Road. Perhaps you should be more researched before you publicize your opinion.
74900217LH said on Thursday, Oct 6 at 8:12 PM
Wolves? Don't be silly. In 2010, jobs fled the Kenai like rats from a sinking ship just as food prices started to rise. During moose season, Escape Road behind the town of Kenai was bumper to bumper hunters and wannabee hunters. Literally. Ask anyone who was there. No legal moose stood a chance. Probably a bunch of illegal moose got taken also. The sorry thing is, as long as the economy is so poor and jobs scarce on the Kenai, people will hunt moose until there are no more. Leave the wolves alone. The relative handful of moose that wolves take each year is nothing compared to the predations of people. I'd rather see limiting guided hunts, opening subsistence seasons for locals only, and other ways to work with the mooses' real predators - us. Hm. Maybe they should institute aerial hunter control?
74900038Add a comment
Most Popular