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Ashley Judd: 'Palin Promotes Brutal Aerial Killing of Wolves' (Barf)
News Busters ^ | February 3, 2009 | Noel Sheppard

Posted on 02/03/2009 2:04:03 PM PST by jazusamo

Did you know that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin promotes the brutal aerial killing of wolves?

You didn't?

Well, that's was actress Ashley Judd claims in a new ad for the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. 

Even worse, according to Judd, Palin is "casting aside science and championing the slaughter of wildlife"

(Video at link)

What's astounding here is that nowhere in the ad is the viewer apprised of why the wolves are being hunted, or the history beyond this policy. Instead, as graphic video rolls of a wolf being shot, Judd says, "Using a low-flying plane, they kill in winter when there is no chance for the wolves to escape."

Ummm...that's the point. After all, the wolves aren't being hunted for sport. They're numbers are being intentionally reduced to increase the population of moose and caribou which Alaskans depend on for food and wolves prey on.

Even the liberal website Slate recognized such in a piece published last September called "Aerial Wolf Gunning 101":

Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and John McCain's vice presidential pick, is an enthusiastic hunter who has proposed legislation and cash incentives to encourage aerial wolf gunning, the controversial practice of shooting wolves from an aircraft. Do people in Alaska really shoot wolves from planes?
Yes, but only with the government's permission. Aerial shooting yields better results than traditional hunting, since it allows the hunter to cover a lot of ground quickly and track target animals from a clear vantage point. Historically, hunters also used planes to drive animals—polar bears in Alaska and elk in Montana, among others—toward gunmen waiting on the ground. But many hunters found the practice unsportsmanlike, since it violates the "fair chase" ethic, and animal rights activists call it inhumane, since airborne gunmen rarely get a clean (i.e., relatively painless) kill. In response to concerns like these, Congress passed the Federal Airborne Hunting Act of 1972, which made it illegal for hunters to shoot animals from a plane or helicopter.

The federal legislation (PDF) does have a loophole for predator control, permitting state employees or licensed individuals to shoot from an aircraft for the sake of protecting "land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life, or crops." (This doesn't just apply to wolves; coyotes and foxes are sometimes gunned down from aircraft, especially in Western states.) Since 2003, Alaska has issued aerial wolf-hunting permits in select areas where moose and caribou populations are particularly endangered. The idea is that by killing the predators, the airborne gunmen can ramp up the number of moose and caribou that human hunters can take home for supper.

The need for this practice is addressed by the Wildlife Conservation division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Wolves and bears are very effective and efficient predators on caribou, moose, deer and other wildlife. In most of Alaska, humans also rely on the same species for food. In Alaska's Interior, predators kill more than 80 percent of the moose and caribou that die during an average year, while humans kill less than 10 percent. In most of the state, predation holds prey populations at levels far below what could be supported by the habitat in the area. Predation is an important part of the ecosystem, and all ADF&G wolf management programs, including control programs, are designed to sustain wolf populations in the future.

The Alaska Board of Game approves wildlife regulations through a public participation process. When the Board determines that people need more moose and/or caribou in a particular area, and restrictions on hunting aren't enough to allow prey populations to increase, predator control programs may be needed. Wolf hunting and trapping rarely reduces wolf numbers enough to increase prey numbers or harvests.

Currently, five wolf control programs are underway that comprises about 9.4% of Alaska's land area. The programs use a closely controlled permit system allowing aerial or same day airborne methods to remove wolves in designated areas. In these areas, wolf numbers will be temporarily reduced, but wolves will not be permanently eliminated from any area. Successful programs allow humans to take more moose, and healthy populations of wolves to continue to thrive in Alaska.

The hunting of wolves as predator control is also not a new practice. According to Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska began paying bounties for wolves back in 1915, and started aerial hunting in 1968. Since then, aerial hunting has been a well-debated but often-used method of trimming the number of wolves to maximize the population of other wildlife.

More recently, the Alaska legislature expanded the practice in March 2000, and reinstated it in 2003 with the signature of then Gov. Frank Murkowski. As such, given the history -- and the wildlife preservation component -- Judd's hysteria is rather preposterous.

Yet, that shouldn't be surprising, for the attack on Palin might be much more political than animal protection oriented given the following posted at the Action Fund's website Monday concerning this issue (emphasis added):

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today launched a national campaign to expose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's renewed anti-conservation agenda. The Action Fund first highlighted Palin's record in Alaska during last fall's presidential campaign when it ran TV ads across battleground states, highlighting Palin's championing of the brutal and unnecessary aerial killing of wolves and other carnivores.

"Sarah Palin isn't fading into the background, so neither are we," commented Defenders Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen. "Given her known political aspirations, the American public deserves to know what she's doing in Alaska, and about her extreme anti-conservation policies. The list is long, and we will document it all, from her continued promotion of the aerial slaughter of wolves and bears, to her lawsuit to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, even as the sea ice melts beneath it."

Fascinating. So, if Palin faded into the background and didn't have national political aspirations, this group wouldn't consider it necessary to inform the public about this? Doesn't that imply the entire campaign is about bashing the Governor and NOT saving wolves?

Such seems likely given the group's displeasure with a $150 bounty that Palin had proposed for the severed foreleg of each killed wolf. As the Associated Press reported in 2007, there was a reason for this proposal (emphasis added):

The state is offering incentives for people who kill wolves in an effort to boost Alaska's predator control program, which so far has failed to meet expected numbers.

"Several factors have led to a low wolf take this winter, so we're going to step up our efforts to meet the annual objectives in this important program," Commissioner Denby Lloyd with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in a statement Wednesday.

The program, now in its fourth year and operating in five areas of the state, is designed to increase moose and caribou numbers by reducing the number of predators.

The incentives include offering 180 volunteer pilots and aerial gunners $150 in cash for turning in legs of freshly killed wolves, Gov. Sarah Palin's office announced Tuesday.

The state will use the left forelegs of wolves as biological specimens, which can help biologists determine wolf age and will assist the program in the future, Lloyd said. [...]The Palin administration is anteing up cash because the number of wolf kills this winter is behind schedule. State biologists wanted 382 to 664 wolves killed by the time the snow that helps with tracking disappears this spring. The predator-control season ends April 30.

As of Tuesday morning, 98 wolves had been killed by aerial gunners, hunters and trappers.

Not surprising, the Judd commercial didn't address the reason for the bounty.

Any wonder why?

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: environuts; judd; palin; wolves
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To: jazusamo

She used to be pretty, and she means well.

Just what the hell do you folks want? /s


41 posted on 02/03/2009 2:29:19 PM PST by DoughtyOne (D1: Home of the golden tag line: FBI cuts off CAIR for contact with Hamas, Obama wants to talk to.)
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To: TChris

The enviros like Judd that come out in the defense and reintroducing of wolves are most generally the most ignorant of the consequences.


42 posted on 02/03/2009 2:31:05 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

I’ve seen some video of it in the past but don’t have any links.


43 posted on 02/03/2009 2:33:34 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

I wonder what wolf tastes like?

(The meat, folks. I’m neither Cheech Marin nor Tommy Chong and this is not “Up In Smoke”.)


44 posted on 02/03/2009 2:34:25 PM PST by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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To: jazusamo

(Ashley went to “perfectionism” rehab in 2006. LOL, good grief. Gov Palin can take this fool in one punch)

Ashley Judd spent 47-days in rehab last February at a Texas treatment center, while battling emotional issues like depression, isolation and co-dependent relationships, according to an interview with Glamour magazine, excerpted by USA Today.

“I needed help,” Judd tells Glamour in the magazine’s August issue. “I was in so much pain.”

In the interview, Judd, 38, calls her childhood “chaotic” and “dysfunctional” and says that she became a perfectionist and a “hyper-vigilant child” to overcompensate for her emotionally-troubled sister Wynonna, 42.

“Supposedly, my sister was the ‘messed-up’ one, and I was the ‘perfect’ one.”

The De-Lovely actress was approached by counselors for treatment while visiting Wynonna at the Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas, where was being treated for food addiction.

Professionals at the clinic taught Judd that she was using sleep to deal with uncomfortable feelings and that her habit of wiping down plastic surfaces on planes and hotels was all about control. “Now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectionism, I am abusing myself.”

“They said, ‘No one ever does an intervention on people like you. You look too good. You’re too smart and together. But you [and Wynonna] come from the same family, so you come from the same wound.’ No one had validated my pain before,” Judd says.

She also denied reports that the clinic was treating her for eating disorders “though I did take a look at my eating. Why wouldn’t I? I looked at everything else in my life under a microscope.”

The effects of her treatment have improved her 4-and-a-half-year marriage to racecar driver Dario Franchitti, 33.

“I was unhappy, and now I’m happy. Now, even when I’m having a rough day, it’s better than my best day before treatment.”


45 posted on 02/03/2009 2:36:07 PM PST by roses of sharon (Pray Hussein fails!)
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To: All
She's not against killing everything........
46 posted on 02/03/2009 2:36:52 PM PST by Sybeck1 (WHITE AND EMBRACING WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!!!)
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To: Jim Scott

Well said, Judd is trying to appeal to the emotions of animal rights nutjobs and she’s probably doing it successfully.


47 posted on 02/03/2009 2:37:11 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

I like her Mom , her sis is OK, she’s a little dense.


48 posted on 02/03/2009 2:37:24 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
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To: jazusamo

Palin needs any help on that one let me know, I’d assume you’re talking about rifles from helicopters at ranges to around 300 yards....


49 posted on 02/03/2009 2:37:49 PM PST by wendy1946
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To: girlangler

Hi Girl,

Figured it was probably illegal in every state but wasn’t sure and they’re definitely scared of her.

That’s a sad pic of the fawn and Wynonna, hope it was returned to the doe safely.


50 posted on 02/03/2009 2:42:57 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: RichInOC

I’ll bet there’s few wolves in Asian countries. :)


51 posted on 02/03/2009 2:44:28 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: roses of sharon

Sounds like a real airhead with problems.


52 posted on 02/03/2009 2:48:00 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Ashley promotes the killing of human beings. In utero.


53 posted on 02/03/2009 2:48:02 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: NormsRevenge

Naomi is my favorite also, a great singer too.


54 posted on 02/03/2009 2:49:48 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

What a beautiful c-word....

still I’d take Palin on a cold night over looney Assley

how’d she get so weird considering her mom is fairly cool


55 posted on 02/03/2009 2:50:58 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
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To: jazusamo

Typical hollywood star! Have ya’ll heard about that Christian Bale’ blowup? Here’s a link, but don’t go if you’re easily offended by horrible language!
http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/02/bale-went-ballistic


56 posted on 02/03/2009 2:51:10 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: wolfcreek; Fledermaus

That’s Wynonna’s old property at Leipers Fork tween hwy 96 and the hamlet....she was big on horses

I think her and momma and Assley share some property over off Southall road tween there and Franklin.

Pretty country...where I’m looking now to get out of Green Hills and Davidson public.


57 posted on 02/03/2009 2:54:52 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
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To: Sybeck1

Whoopie flanked by two crazy southern bitches that ought to know better


58 posted on 02/03/2009 2:56:14 PM PST by wardaddy (Free Republis is as moderate as I've ever seen, why is that?)
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To: wardaddy

Don’t know how she arrived at it but she’s a far out weirdo for sure. When it comes to brains she’s an infant compared to Sarah Palin.


59 posted on 02/03/2009 3:02:56 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: muawiyah

I’d take Judd along on one of these events and lower her down on a rope so she could bond with a pack of wolves and tell them she is sorry they have been hunted.


60 posted on 02/03/2009 3:06:45 PM PST by Right Wing Assault (What's Obama's Secret?)
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