Community debates wolf control

MAT-SU The local Fish and Game Advisory Committee has lent its support to a wolf-control program in Unit 13. But the endorsement followed several hours of debate that will likely continue around the state how will the wolves be killed and are they really the problem?

Following more than three hours of discussion and public testimony Wednesday night, the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee endorsed a wolf-control plan for a portion of Game Management Unit 13.

According to state biologists, the number of moose and Nelchina caribou in the area are declining due to heavy predation.

The calves are being born; theyre just not surviving, Fish and Game biologist Bob Tobey told the committee. He showed several graphs depicting the steady rise of wolves and the correlating decline in the number of moose calves.

Last month the state Board of Game drafted a wolf-control proposal designed to stop the decline in moose. However, the board postponed a final vote until its spring meeting in Fairbanks, with hopes of collecting public comment. Gov. Tony Knowles, who has final authority over Fish and Game programs, has said that any wolf-control plan must have broad public support, among other stipulations.

If this weeks meeting in Palmer was any indication, however, public comment is likely to be diverse and intense.

Wolves eat moose. If you put the wolves back, youre going to have more moose, Rod Arno of the Alaska Outdoor Council told the advisory committee. Thats just logical.

Arno said his group, which represents around 10,000 Alaskans, supports the wolf-control program because it will increase the number of caribou and moose for hunters. And while the plan up for comment does not specify how the program will be implemented, Arno spoke in favor of land-and-shoot.

That way youre getting in there, getting them killed and getting out, he said. He said the method is humane, efficient and does not impact other species. Were not talking hunting; were not talking fair chase. Were talking wolf control.

Not everyone on the advisory committee was convinced, however. After the committee amended the endorsement to include land-and-shoot as a possible method, member Daniel Elliott declined to support it.

The public has already voted on same-day-airborne hunting, he said, referring to a recent ballot initiative passed by Alaskan voters. You put that in there and you know there isnt going to be broad public support.

Regardless of how the number of wolves is reduced, however, some at the meeting questioned whether it would solve the problem.

Wolves kill animals … thats the business theyre in, said Vic VanBallenberghe, who testified before the committee. But the former Fish and Game biologist said other factors such as habitat, severity of winters, hunting pressure and bear predation must be considered as well.

While wolves may account for winter predation, VanBallenberghe cited studies that showed brown bears are responsible for killing a significant number of calves earlier in the year.

Members of the advisory committee said they were familiar with the studies and also had concerns about the number of brown bears in Unit 13. The committee is recommending that the state Board of Game consider brown bears in addition to wolves in its predator-control plan.

In the meantime, members of the committee are encouraging Valley residents to learn more about the proposal. Unit 13 is the most heavily hunted area in Alaska for moose and caribou.

Committee chairman Carl Grauvogel said if the state board does not receive public support for the plan, it will be hard-pressed to approve it.

I think it is very important for people to voice their opinions, pro and con, Grauvogel said.

Written comments may be sent to Alaska Board of Game, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526.