Alaska Judge Upholds Aerial Wolf Killing But Limits Extent
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 18, 2008 (ENS) - A federal judge on Friday invalidated the aerial gunning of wolves in several areas of Alaska in a case brought by four conservation groups challenging the state's wolf control program.
At the same time, Superior Court Judge William Morse upheld the practice of shooting wolves from planes and helicopters.
The program was challenged by Friends of Animals, Defenders of Wildlife, the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, and the Sierra Club, who sued the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Board of Game in 2006 after the Board extended the areas where aerial gunning was allowed.
In his decision, Judge Morse examined the entire history of Alaska's wolf control programs. His ruling upholds the aerial gunning program as a whole, while banning the practice in four areas covering up to 15,000 of the total of about 60,000 square miles covered by the program.
The areas where the judge banned aerial gunning are the areas into which the Game Board extended it in 2006, notably covering the entire Forty Mile caribou herd near Tok and also in an area across Cook Inlet from Anchorage.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates there are now between 7,700 and 11,200 wolves in the state. State wildlife managers say they prey too heavily on caribou and moose and that the aerial shooting program will increase the populations of these animals needed by subsistance hunters.
Hunter retrieves the body of a wolf shot from a plane. (Photo courtesy Wolf)
But the conservation groups maintain that the science on which the Game Board bases its decisions is not sufficient to justify killing more than 700 wolves since the program began in 2003.
From her office in Darien, Connecticut, Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals, said, "Our efforts in the lawsuit stopped aerial wolf control in 12,000 - 15,000 square miles of Alaska - that's four regions into which the state had expanded their reckless killing schemes in 2006. They've opened 60,000 square miles to aircraft and helicopter-assisted shooting as the bureaucracy is hell bent on killing wolves all across the state."
"These ghastly forays must be halted by public publicy, a majority of voters on a ballot initiative in August, and through other reforms and legal challenges," said Feral. "Alaska's mean-spirited predator control programs are a blight on the continent. Friends of Animals is commited to holding the Board of Game's feet to the fire; their process is a sham."
In his ruling, Judge Morse acknowledged the heated political climate surrounding the issue. "The Court cannot ignore the political war that has been raging for a decade between those who favor wolf control programs and those who oppose them," he wrote.
"The public has passed two initiatives to stop certain wolf control programs; the legislature has twice reauthorized the Board to implement the programs. But the Board's recent actions have to be evaluated on a narrow stage," Judge Morse wrote, concluding that the Board did not violate the law when it adopted the aerial gunning program at issue in the case.
Alaska wolves number between 7,700 and 11,200. (Photo by John Hyde courtesy ADFG)
Alaska voters will again have an opportunity to weigh in on aerial wolf control when they go to the polls in August.
Commenting on the ruling, Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife, said, "This reinforces the need for the ballot initiative on this issue in August. Defenders will continue to work with Alaskans for Wildlife and others to ensure the people's right to vote and once again restrict the aerial hunting of wolves."
But meanwhile, the Board of Game intends to reinstate the areas excluded by the judge. Board of Game chairman Cliff Judkins told the Associated Press "the problems can be corrected through emergency regulation," which could happen as early as this week.
In Washington, House Democrats introduced legislation last September that would protect wolves, bears, and other wildlife from airborne hunting.
The Protect America's Wildlife Act, or PAW Act, was introduced by California Congressman George Miller along with Congressman John Dingell of Michigan, the floor manager of the debate on the original Airborne Hunting Act; and Congressman Norm Dicks of Washington state, chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.
Now before the Committee on Natural Resources, the bill, H.R. 3663, would close a loophole in federal law that Alaska officials have used to permit hunters to shoot wolves from aircraft.
"It's time to ground Alaska's illegal and inhumane air assault on wolves," said Miller. "The state of Alaska has been operating an airborne hunting program that not only ignores federal law but violates Alaskans' and other Americans' wishes. The PAW Act will help to protect our nation's wildlife from the unethical and unfair practice of airborne hunting."
The PAW Act provides that states can only conduct activities prohibited by the Airborne Hunting Act to respond to legitimate biological and other emergencies, not just to authorize otherwise-illegal hunting practices.
The bill does not alter existing exceptions for the use of aircraft for animal control where land, livestock, water, pets, crops, or human health and safety are at risk.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
The sensationalism and smears in this story would make ABRAHAM FOXMAN proud.
_________________________________________________________________________ "This man is Jesus, shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. When will he come to Kenya to save us?
The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit! -Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
Whatever dude. You are pro death, I am not. Good luck to you on your quest for blood.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
i support this completly its not my idea of hunting and i would never do it but if someone wantsto do it more power to them its not my place or the governmants to say they cant
the american government is a disease masquerading as its own cure
Your words to RickyJ - "LOL I could have told you that would happen"
This is why I don't trust you as far as I can spit, as you have a habit of siding with anyone who disparages me here, no matter what the topic might be, and no matter how ludicrous the other poster's comment might be.
In fact, I don't think you have EVER sided with me, except in perhaps a rare case here or there in that opposition to what I said would not bring you any support.
In other words, I STILL think you are nothing but a shill.
Show me how I'm wrong. Demonstrate where I have taken words out of context here, and how you aren't just siding with Ricky in an attempt to make me look bad, where I've done nothing here that you are accusing me of.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
more power to them its not my place or the governmants to say they cant
Is this what you approve of?
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
In fact farmfriend, I find your posting style to be oddly familiar. We were just talking about Marguerite earlier today, and now that I think of it, you appear to have the same sort of posting style, albeit you would obviously need to toss a huge amount of camouflage over yourself in order to be seen as a "good guy" here...
Your inquiries into people's actual identities has always left me a bit leary of you.
I find it a bit odd that you hinted that you knew who Byteshredder was earlier this evening, then turned around and said you didn't know who he was, and that you don't poke around finding out other people's identities, where I know that's a huge lie.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
This is why I don't trust you as far as I can spit, as you have a habit of siding with anyone who disparages me here, no matter what the topic might be, and no matter how ludicrous the other poster's comment might be.
If I had a dollar for everytime you have taken what I said and twisted it into something it was not, I wouldn't be hurting for money right now. And if you go back and read my post you will see that is the only part I quoted or agreed with.
In fact, I don't think you have EVER sided with me, except in perhaps a rare case here or there in that opposition to what I said would not bring you any support.
I used to think you were a friend so I must have sided with you at some point. Now I pretty much ignore you actually. Rarely do I ever post to you and today I was quite civil to you. We used to agree quite often before you started calling me a shill and suggesting I was untrustworthy, twisting what I say and accusing me of all kinds of crap like posting under another name etc. As for your suggestion that I oppose you just to oppose you, you are just not that important.
I really could't care less if you trust me or not. Couldn't care less if you think I'm a shill. As for people supporting me, I don't base my opinions on whether they will be popular or not and I have been known to rush to the defense of those I completely disagree with simply because I consider them a friend. I regret having ever called you a friend. I felt stabbed in the back when you turned on me without warning. So when you start saying I'm untrustworthy or a shill, I just assume you are projecting.
and that you don't poke around finding out other people's identities,
I never said that. God you are an ass. See this post of yours is a prime axample of why I agreed with Ricky on that one post you twist everything. As for trying to find out peoples identies, that is really twisting my attempts to connect with people into something nepharious. I was just trying to make friends with people. I always have. I've gone and visited fellow posters many times. Even had a wonderful dinner with B4Ranch/Sparker. See that's why your crap about me won't fly. I've talked with too many people outside the forum, met and worked with too many on projects. You can doubt me and my motives all you want but it will never make it reality.
I had been civil with you until you decided to poke at me here without having the courtesy of pinging me. That is not being civil in my book, and indicates you have no intent of having a civil discussion, you just found a convenient opportunity to make me look bad and you took it, hoping that I had gone to sleep and wouldn't see it apparently...
So my opinion of you is what it is.
In fact, I did see you as a friend when you first came here, and even stood up for you in regards to what was going on over at LP between you and Byteshredder.
It wasn't until you started hounding me in email in regards to your views on Thimerosal and your siding with JC Harris that I began to wonder about you. That was followed by your incessant bitching about another poster here where you disagreed with her stance on global warming, dragged me into that debate, where you then took the side of big oil and used known industry shills as your "sources", then tried to make ME look as if I was guilty of what you were in fact doing...
I really don't care WHO the hell you are, but if you give me crap here, I'll return it spades. Just remember that...
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
Me? I don't give a shit who someone is or what their position is.
It's easy to jump to conclusions with what's happened in the past.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
OK, if you would have told me you were a troll at the start I could have saved my typing on you. You are taking my words out of context and then implying something I am in no way saying.
God is always good!
RickyJ posted on 2009-02-04 2:06:58 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#242. To: RickyJ (#235)
You are taking my words out of context and then implying something I am in no way saying.
Macro evolution does not need a God to occur. So why believe in a God when there would be no reason to do so?
Wrong. The very fact that DNA is a blueprint for life indicates that an intelligence beyond our understanding created not only the DNA, but the concept of DNA and the mechanisms for it to behave as it does.
That's nothing compared to the nature of matter, energy, time, and space. For it all to behave as it does, and for life to exist, there has to something beyond dumb luck.
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
OK, if you would have told me you were a troll at the start I could have saved my typing on you. You are taking my words out of context and then implying something I am in no way saying.
Oh let me guess, you're pissed that I didn't include your entire statement and only focused on the part that I was responding to. I'm sure it's clear to everyone here but you and farmfriend that I was responding to your comments concerning macro evolution and the need for God to be involved with that.
It's also clear as day that you are a hardline Bible thumper, so I doubt anyone could mistake you for an "atheist" if that's what your concern is...
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
Yes, there are scientific methods to date objects, artifacts, stars, galaxies.
But you don't understand them. You just accept them because some guy in a white jacket with a lable of "scientist" said so. That makes you a willing ignorant follower.
What part of unverifiable don't you understand. It is not science if it cannot be verified. Sheesh you think yourself smart but you are making a fool of yourself.
Life penalty. As far as the death penalty for moms, is that what you support?
Yes I am consistent. Death penalty for murdereres. No murderers get off because they happen to kill their kid. I guess child abuse should be ok too, as long as it is your own kid
Sheesh you think yourself smart but you are making a fool of yourself.
I bet you think people are laughing with you, but they're not. They're laughing at you Old Friend.
Post some scientific evidence that states scientists know less than you, ok?
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
No murderers get off because they happen to kill their kid. I guess child abuse should be ok too, as long as it is your own kid
You lunatic, I didn't say they should get off, I said they shouldn't be given the death penalty. Life in prison for a person that killed their kid might give them time to think about what they did wrong...
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
In fact farmfriend, I find your posting style to be oddly familiar. We were just talking about Marguerite earlier today, and now that I think of it, you appear to have the same sort of posting style, albeit you would obviously need to toss a huge amount of camouflage over yourself in order to be seen as a "good guy" here...
Your inquiries into people's actual identities has always left me a bit leary of you.
I find it a bit odd that you hinted that you knew who Byteshredder was earlier this evening, then turned around and said you didn't know who he was, and that you don't poke around finding out other people's identities, where I know that's a huge lie.
You need to request for your attending physician to up the dosage.
Series
4um Traitor "If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.Samuel Adams
I used to think you were a friend so I must have sided with you at some point. Now I pretty much ignore you actually. Rarely do I ever post to you and today I was quite civil to you. We used to agree quite often before you started calling me a shill and suggesting I was untrustworthy, twisting what I say and accusing me of all kinds of crap like posting under another name etc. As for your suggestion that I oppose you just to oppose you, you are just not that important.
I really could't care less if you trust me or not. Couldn't care less if you think I'm a shill. As for people supporting me, I don't base my opinions on whether they will be popular or not and I have been known to rush to the defense of those I completely disagree with simply because I consider them a friend. I regret having ever called you a friend. I felt stabbed in the back when you turned on me without warning. So when you start saying I'm untrustworthy or a shill, I just assume you are projecting.
FL has earned the second spot on my bozo filter (The obnoxious atheist drone 'nobody' has #1 permanently locked up). The sheer volume of garbage put forth is justification enough; these goofy attacks are further justification.
4um Traitor "If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.Samuel Adams
That's the problem here.. this is being done mostly by Out of Stater's, that spend big money, to have the joy of a kill. Most don't even eat the meat nor keep their kill. The last report I got on this issue, was most of the kills, end up dog food..
Oh really?.. A Local Garage Owner, has 5 kills so far.. NONE brought back with him.. the fckin asshat..
But you don't understand them. You just accept them because some guy in a white jacket with a lable of "scientist" said so. That makes you a willing ignorant follower.
What part of unverifiable don't you understand. It is not science if it cannot be verified. Sheesh you think yourself smart but you are making a fool of yourself.
No, dear, it is you who doesn't understand. Let me help you with some basic definitions for science:
1. originally, knowledge. 2. systemized knowledge derived from observation, study and experimentation. 3. a branch of knowledge, especially one concerned with ESTABLISHING AND SYSTEMIZING facts, principles, and methods 4. The systemized knowledge of nature
SCIENTIFIC: 1. of or dealing with science. 2. Used in or for natural science. 3. based on, or using, the principles and methods of science; systematic and exact. 4. done according to methods gained by training and experience. 5. skill, method, system.
Note that "unverifiable" is nowhere included in basic definitions. To begin with a hypothesis and then create a theory one must begin with what is NOT verified and then provide the body of evidence. For instance, Newton's theory of gravity was not initially VERIFIABLE but later attained this status and, hence, became a LAW. Science is an ever growing BODY OF KNOWLEDGE much of which is not proven VERIFIABLE.......at least not yet.
You do not understand science at even the most elementary level. However, you do claim to be some sort of expert on the Bible. Did you miss this passage? Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Mathew, v, 22. Or this one? A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. Proverbs, xvii, 12.
Perhaps you could cure your seemingly irrational hysteria concerning this matter by spearheading a project to repopulate wolves in your area. They roamed most of north America only a few hundred years ago.
I would in a heartbeat, as I would trust a wolf before most humans anymore..
I hunt and kill coyotes: canis lupis vs. canis latrans, one's bigger and one's smaller. There's a reason the wolves were exterminated from the lower 48 states: they're KILLERS of livestock and people.
Would you care to show us some stats to back up this claim.. As most attacks that are claimed against wolfs, have been done by either Bears or Coyotes. I know of only two on records so far, one here in the States and one that is still in dispute in Canada.
Would you care to show us some stats to back up this claim.
No.
It's common knowledge that wolves had to go as white men pushed Western Civilization west across America, their presence was completely incompatible with people and livestock.
_________________________________________________________________________ "This man is Jesus, shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. When will he come to Kenya to save us?
The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit! -Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
_________________________________________________________________________ "This man is Jesus, shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. When will he come to Kenya to save us?
The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit! -Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
In the past five years, the state has relied on private pilots and gunners to kill wolves in different parts of the state where moose or caribou populations are too low to meet the needs and demands of subsistence and sport hunters. More than 800 wolves have been killed in the past five years as a result of the program.
I said macro evolution does not need a God to occur. And I am correct. But macro evolution is only a fairy tale that has no evidence to support it whatsoever. If macro evolution were proven true then God would be a liar saying he created all things in six days. If God is a liar, then what difference does it make if he exists or not?
I said my faith in God is not irrational, and it isn't. If believing in God required me to be irrational to do so then I couldn't do it. But your faith in macro evolution and man made global warming is irrational.
After reading more of your posts on this thread, I know it is of no value to debate this with you.. you kill for the trill. To which I am wholeheartedly against. In my step-father's family, many were Game Wardens, and all were against the killing of any animal, that was NOT used for meat/skin.
That's the problem here.. this is being done mostly by Out of Stater's, that spend big money, to have the joy of a kill. Most don't even eat the meat nor keep their kill. The last report I got on this issue, was most of the kills, end up dog food..
Oh really?.. A Local Garage Owner, has 5 kills so far.. NONE brought back with him.. the fckin asshat..
If you are responding to the quote in italics above, you should send your comments to the person who posted that quote.
There are lots of people who ignore the hunting regulations. You must salvage the hide and have it sealed within 30 days of the kill in most game management units.
You and FormerLurker need to get over yourselves and your feigned sense of outrage over the FUCKING WOLVES. Remember, $12.40 buys a non-resident wolf license in Alberta, Canada; they aren't ate up with the "Save the WOLF!!" bullshit.
_________________________________________________________________________ "This man is Jesus, shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. When will he come to Kenya to save us?
The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit! -Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
You are an anti-hunter who keeps trying to cloak himself in "my family this..." and "responsible hunting only if..." bullshit. Fuck you and fuck FormerLurker, I know what kind of cock-sucking bastards you two really are, you want to ban ALL hunting and you start with the wolves/polar bears/etc. in increments. FUCK YOU!!
_________________________________________________________________________ "This man is Jesus, shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. When will he come to Kenya to save us?
The best and first guarantor of our neutrality and our independent existence is the defensive will of the people and the proverbial marksmanship of the Swiss shooter. Each soldier a good marksman! Each shot a hit! -Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
4um Traitor "If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.Samuel Adams