A temporary restraining order seeking to once again halt Alaska's aerial gunning programs was denied by the Alaska Supreme Court on February 10th, 2006. This means that the state's aerial gunning programs are once again in full swing and will continue through the end of April. Defenders is preparing testimony and comments for the upcoming Board of Game meeting regarding the Board's emergency regulations as well as new proposals that seek to drastically expand control of brown bears and lengthen wolf control in some areas.
Under the anti-conservation Board of Game's direction, more than 400 wolves in Alaska have been killed by the barbaric practice of aerial gunning.
Easy targets against fallen snow, wolves can be gunned down from airplanes or chased to exhaustion, then shot at point blank range.
A state judge recently ruled that the state of Alaska's regulations, upon which their aerial gunning program is based, were illegal, giving wolves a temporary reprieve. The Alaska Board of Game immediately scheduled an emergency meeting to address the deficiencies the court found. At this meeting, the Board adopted new regulations, which were filed January 26th. This action allows the state to issue new aerial gunning permits. Aerial gunners are expected to be operating as early as next week. More than 400 wolves have been killed over the past 3 winters and the new plans target approximately 400 more.
We are calling on everyone who cares about wolves and wildlife to help us permanently halt this senseless slaughter, by taking the following steps:
First, make a tax-deductible emergency contribution to Defenders of Wildlife's Campaign to Save Alaska's Wolves. Your contribution will help to help gather signatures, raise media awareness, and pressure Interior Secretary Norton to stop the killing.
Second, sign Defenders of Wildlife's petition to Interior Secretary Norton demanding that she enforce the Federal Airborne Hunting Act and halt this barbaric practice at once.
Thank you for caring...
Sincerely,
Dorothy Keeler
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