Alaska: Feds Implement New Predator Control Rule Except Wolves Hunting

Feds wildlife officials are implementing a new rule that prohibits predator control on national wildlife refuges in more than 73 million acres of land of Alaska. However, the predator control ban has an exception for the hunt of some predators such as wolves to boost moose and caribou populations, that is, if the Fish and Wildlife Service determines that the effort is for conservation purposes.

Director Dan Ashe said that Alaska's national wildlife refuge is an incredible landscape with a population of wildlife creatures that support subsistence, traditional and recreational opportunities. These activities include hunting, fishing and also wildlife viewing, Daily Progress reported.

Ashe said that they prefer to defer the regulation of general hunting and trapping of wildlife on national wildlife refuges to the State of Alaska whenever possible. He further explained that this regulation ensures that they comply with their mandates and obligations, KTUU-TV reported.

Spokeswoman Andrea Medeiro of the federal agency said that the Feds rule is a response to the increased predator control by the Alaska Board of Game. However, director of the Alaska division of wildlife conservation Bruce Dale stood firm that the recent state efforts have resulted in fewer predators being captured. He was critical of the new rule and views it as merely an erosion of the state's management authority of fish and game and it's Fish and Wildlife siding with outside interests.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are being praised by animal welfare advocates for their decision to crack down on predator control in the state. Alaska state director Michael Haukedalen for The Humane Society said that they are thrilled to know that the protection on national wildlife refuges will be enhanced.

Feds new predator ban was opened to public comment earlier this year but was just published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. Feds predator ban will be effective 30 days after its publication.