April 8, 2020
You can probably count how many wolves are left on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, on less than two hands…maybe even on just one.
This comes as no surprise, however, as we said just prior to the 2019-2020 season, the new “no quota strategy” would be the demise of this rare wolf, the Alexander Archipelago.
In 2016, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) found that Alexander Archipelago wolf did not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), at that time; the population estimate was about 89 individuals. (The USFWS did note in a Species Status Assessment that the Alexander Archipelago wolf population occupying Game Management Unit 2 (GMU-2), including Prince of Wales Island declined by 75 percent between 1994 and 2014, from 356 to 89 individuals). The estimate did not take into account losses during the season, nor the illegal take of wolves. In 2016, the population was likely 50 to 60 wolves on Prince of Wales Island, alone.
Jump ahead to this season’s hunting and trapping of wolves in GMU-2. The last population estimate prior to the 2019-2020 season was 170 wolves (with “high confidence” that the actual number of wolves in GMU 2 prior to the autumn 2018 hunting and trapping seasons was within the range, 147 to 202 wolves—from that total 46 wolves were legally “harvested”).
And as we said in this prior post post—
Killing just 20 wolves this season will drop the population down to what ADF&G considers a minimum viable population, and yet the quota per hunter/trapper which was set at an already astonishing 5 wolves became “limitless”.
Well, from the estimated 170 wolves, this brilliant new strategy, concocted by the Board of Game, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, on your national forest lands, saw the slaughter of 165 wolves. The highest “harvest” of wolves in GMU-2 ever.
That leaves approximately just 5 animals left. Five.
Astonishingly, this strategy is still defended as you can see in this advisory announcement from which I quote:
“The ADF&G, Division of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWC) new management strategy for Unit 2 wolves manages harvest by altering the length of hunting and trapping seasons to maintain a fall population objective of 150 to 200 wolves established by the Alaska Board of Game.
Further down, Tom Schumacher has the audacity to say, and again I quote:
“Sustained high levels of harvest during the 1990s and rapid recovery from low abundance in 2014 and 2015 suggest the Unit 2 wolf population is productive and resilient,” Schumacher said. “We will have a better understanding of the current status of the Unit 2 wolf population after the fall 2019 population estimate becomes available. Wolves have a high reproductive potential, so the fall 2019 population may have been a good deal higher than the fall 2018 estimate.”
Please speak up. Contact the Governor of Alaska,and involved officials, share your thoughts on what can only be called the annihilation of our nation’s rare Alexander Archipelago wolves. Below find sample emails to send to ADF&G, Alaska Board of Game, and Governor Mike Dunleavy; please personalize (or send as is). Copy each letter, tap the link that follows, then add your thoughts and sign.
Your first letter to involved officials:
Douglas Vincent-Lang (ADF&G Commisioner)
Tom Schumacher (Regional Supervisor)
Eddie Grasser (Director, Wildlife Conservation)
Jristy Tibbles (Executive Director, Board of Game)
And cc Board of Game members
Your letter (copy, and find link at the end for sending):
Dear Commissioner Vincent-Lang, Mr. Schumacher, Ms. Tibbles, Mr. Grasser, and Board of Game members:
The implementation of the new “wolf management strategy” in GMU-2, which directly caused the loss of a record number of wolves from an already diminished population of animals (leaving a genetically unsustainable population) is an abomination, to say the very least. This wanton annihilation of our nation’s rare Alexander Archipelago wolves on our nation’s forest lands is reprehensible and must come to a full stop if the animal is to be rescued from the brink of complete extirpation.
Alaska must take responsibility to protect the Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales and adjacent islands. Protecting this imperiled species is the state agencies’ obligation to their citizens, as well as the US Forest Service’s obligation to US citizens.
Scientists and conservationists have asserted time and time again that the Archipelago wolf population has steadily declined to dangerously low population levels, and that distributions are not sufficient to maintain genetic viability. More importantly, recently adopted (as well as prior) regulations, are not adequate enough protection to ensure persistence of population numbers of this unique species. The new “no quota” regulation established by the Board of Game literally throws all caution to the wind. This “strategy” had the obvious inability “to establish a GMU 2 wolf population objective of 150-200 wolves,” especially when “hunters and trappers are “reminded” to help maintain the population objective.
Fish and Game’s report estimated that the wolf population on and around Prince of Wales prior to this season was approximately 170 animals (down from the estimated population of 250 to 350 in 1993). From this already dangerously low population a record 165 wolves were killed. 165. According to ADF&G this would leave approximately just 5 or so wolves. This “harvest” total, of course, does not account for any illegal takes during that time or since, which yearly studies indicate are substantial, further sealing the wolf’s fate. Even if this was an underestimation of let’s say 50 or so wolves, the situation would remain critical.
The Wildlife Trust Doctrine, a branch of the Public Trust Doctrine, defines the obligation of the states responsibility and obligation to its citizens, and dictates that wildlife has no owners at all, and therefore belongs to all citizens equally. As a result, states have a “sovereign trust obligation” to ensure that wildlife resources are protected and managed responsibly, including the wolf, not just for the benefit of current citizens, but also over the long term. The Wildlife Trust Doctrine imposes a duty to ensure proper protection for the Alexander Archipelago wolf, as well as any other species no longer (or never) protected by the federal government.
Again, I respectfully request that you implement emergency measures to protect the few remaining Archipelago wolves, beginning with canceling future trapping and hunting seasons indefinitely while crafting a sustainable strategy.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this extremely important matter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Your name here.
Tap here to paste, personalize, sign and email your letter
Send another email to Governor Dunleavy, please copy:
Dear Governor Dunleavy:
The implementation of the new “wolf management strategy” in GMU-2, which directly caused the loss of a record number of wolves from an already diminished population of animals (leaving a genetically unsustainable population) is an abomination, to say the very least. This wanton annihilation of our nation’s rare Alexander Archipelago wolves on our nation’s forest lands is reprehensible and must come to a full stop if the animal is to be rescued from the brink of complete extirpation.
Alaska must take responsibility to protect the Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales and adjacent islands. Protecting this imperiled species is the state agencies’ obligation to their citizens, as well as the US Forest Service’s obligation to US citizens.
Scientists and conservationists have asserted time and time again that the Archipelago wolf population has steadily declined to dangerously low population levels, and that distributions are not sufficient to maintain genetic viability. More importantly, recently adopted (as well as prior) regulations, are not adequate enough protection to ensure persistence of population numbers of this unique species. The new “no quota” regulation established by the Board of Game literally throws all caution to the wind. This “strategy” had the obvious inability “to establish a GMU 2 wolf population objective of 150-200 wolves,” especially when “hunters and trappers are “reminded” to help maintain the population objective.
Fish and Game’s report estimated that the wolf population on and around Prince of Wales prior to this season was approximately 170 animals (down from the estimated population of 250 to 350 in 1993). From this already dangerously low population a record 165 wolves were killed. 165. According to ADF&G this would leave approximately just 5 or so wolves. This “harvest” total, of course, does not account for any illegal takes during that time or since, which yearly studies indicate are substantial, further sealing the wolf’s fate. Even if this was an underestimation of let’s say 50 or so wolves, the situation would remain critical.
The Wildlife Trust Doctrine, a branch of the Public Trust Doctrine, defines the obligation of the states responsibility and obligation to its citizens, and dictates that wildlife has no owners at all, and therefore belongs to all citizens equally. As a result, states have a “sovereign trust obligation” to ensure that wildlife resources are protected and managed responsibly, including the wolf, not just for the benefit of current citizens, but also over the long term. The Wildlife Trust Doctrine imposes a duty to ensure proper protection for the Alexander Archipelago wolf, as well as any other species no longer (or never) protected by the federal government.
Again, I respectfully request that you implement emergency measures to protect the few remaining Archipelago wolves and their habitat, beginning with canceling future trapping and hunting seasons indefinitely.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this extremely important matter.
Regards,
Your name here
Send your message to Governor Dunleavy via his website here as direct emails (governor@gov.state.ak.us) will not be delivered.
Send a slightly different copy of your letter to:
Paul Robbins Jr.
Public Affairs Officer
USFS
Your letter (copy, and find link at the end for sending):
Dear Mr. Robbins:
The implementation of the new “wolf management strategy” in GMU-2, which directly caused the loss of a record number of wolves from an already diminished population of animals (leaving a genetically unsustainable population) is an abomination, to say the very least. This wanton annihilation of our nation’s rare Alexander Archipelago wolves on our nation’s forest lands is reprehensible and must come to a full stop if the animal is to be rescued from the brink of complete extirpation.
Alaska must take responsibility to protect the Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales and adjacent islands. Protecting this imperiled species is the state agencies’ obligation to their citizens, as well as the US Forest Service’s obligation to US citizens.
Scientists and conservationists have asserted time and time again that the Archipelago wolf population has steadily declined to dangerously low population levels, and that distributions are not sufficient to maintain genetic viability. More importantly, recently adopted (as well as prior) regulations, are not adequate enough protection to ensure persistence of population numbers of this unique species. The new “no quota” regulation established by the Board of Game literally throws all caution to the wind. This “strategy” had the obvious inability “to establish a GMU 2 wolf population objective of 150-200 wolves,” especially when “hunters and trappers are “reminded” to help maintain the population objective.
Fish and Game’s report estimated that the wolf population on and around Prince of Wales prior to this season was approximately 170 animals (down from the estimated population of 250 to 350 in 1993). From this already dangerously low population a record 165 wolves were killed. 165. According to ADF&G this would leave approximately just 5 or so wolves. This “harvest” total, of course, does not account for any illegal takes during that time or since, which yearly studies indicate are substantial, further sealing the wolf’s fate. Even if this was an underestimation of let’s say 50 or so wolves, the situation would remain critical.
The Wildlife Trust Doctrine, a branch of the Public Trust Doctrine, defines the obligation of the states responsibility and obligation to its citizens, and dictates that wildlife has no owners at all, and therefore belongs to all citizens equally. As a result, states have a “sovereign trust obligation” to ensure that wildlife resources are protected and managed responsibly, including the wolf, not just for the benefit of current citizens, but also over the long term. The Wildlife Trust Doctrine imposes a duty to ensure proper protection for the Alexander Archipelago wolf, as well as any other species no longer (or never) protected by the federal government.
Again, I respectfully request that you implement emergency measures to protect the few remaining Archipelago wolves, beginning with canceling future trapping and hunting seasons indefinitely while crafting a sustainable strategy, and by protecting the remaining old growth forests that remain on Prince of Wales and adjacent islands; critical habitat for both wolves, and Sitka black-tailed deer.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this extremely important matter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Your name here.
Tap here to paste, personalize, sign and send your letter
•
If you care to get in touch further with involved officials regarding this brilliant new wolf management strategy for GMU2, here is a list of involved officials contact information, and websites:
Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner douglas.vincent-lang@alaska.gov
Eddie Grasser, Director, Wildlife Conservation eddie.grasser@alaska.gov Phone: (907) 444-1973
Tom Schumacher, Regional Supervisor, (907) 465-4359, tom.schumacher@alaska.gov
Tongass National Forest:
Troy Heithecker, acting Forest Supervisor Phone: 907-225-3101
Scot Shuler, District Ranger Phone: 907-826-3271
Contact Form
Paul Robbins Jr., Public Affairs Officer, (907) 228-6201, paulrobbins@fs.fed.us
Forest Supervisor’s Office
On this page you will find a list of Alaska Board of Game members. Email: dfg.bog.comments@alaska.gov
Regional contacts: Jessalynn Rintala – jessalynn.rintala@alaska.gov
Phone: (907) 465-6097
Annie Bartholomew – annie.bartholomew@alaska.gov
Phone: (907) 465-4046
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Feature photo of an Alexander Archipelago wolf by Bob Dreeszen
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