Alaska's predator control program now allows hunters to use bear paw snares

LA Times ^ | 3/10/09 | Pete Thomas

[redk]

About the same time Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano was downgraded from orange to yellow, meaning an eruption is less likely, the state's Board of Game set off its own fireworks by announcing new guidelines in a predator control program that now allows the use of paw snares to catch and kill bears, and helicopters for access.

You may recall the criticism leveled at Gov. Sarah Palin during her bid to become vice president over her support for the aerial hunting of wolves as part of the program

[redk]

Boy they are really not going to let this go.

[SolidWood]

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano was downgraded from orange to yellow, meaning an eruption is less likely

Thank God! The only really important part of the story here.

[dennisw]

I like bears. Can’t they just kill all the wolves? Some Indians were spooked by bears being too human-like

[Clint N. Suhks]

I guess Libtards would rather have them starve to death
from over population and go extinct along with other mammal
species. They never learned their lesson from when
Whitetail deer in the east during the 50’s and 60’s almost
went extinct for the same reason.

[Mr. K]

I am all for hunting, but snares make me squeemish.

Isn’t it a little inhumane? I know there are laws requring you to check your traps

[billorites]

My daughter’s 6th grade teacher sent a note home asking parental permission for her to participate in sending Gov. Palin letters asking that she please not kill all the little wolf puppies.

[white17x]

I live and work in one of the effected areas.

Foot snares are really quite gentle on critters. We routinely use them in live capture and transplant projects. They are simply a loop around the wrist of the animal. It is held at the site until tranquilized and moved to another location by air. Although in this case they will be killed.

Bears are tremendously effective predators on moose and caribou calves. Many times the bear will have the calf before it’s 10 minutes old. Bears usually take between 45-60 percent of all calves that hit the ground. The wolves take most of the remainder the following winter.

This is a good thing IMO as it will remove some pressure from the wolf.