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- Xref: sparky alt.wolves:236 rec.backcountry:9091 talk.environment:4703 sci.environment:12909
- Newsgroups: alt.wolves,rec.backcountry,talk.environment,sci.environment
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!nobody
- From: goldsman@cc.gatech.edu (Michael G. Goldsman)
- Subject: Re: Alaska Wolf Hunts
- References: <1992Nov20.054646.28288@netcom.com>
- Sender: nobody@ctr.columbia.edu
- Organization: College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:06:51 GMT
- Message-ID: <1992Nov20.220651.24701@sol.ctr.columbia.edu>
- Reply-To: goldsman@cc.gatech.edu (Michael G. Goldsman)
- X-Posted-From: denver.cc.gatech.edu
- NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu
- Lines: 78
-
- In article <1992Nov20.054646.28288@netcom.com> wolf@netcom.com (Wolf Logan) writes:
-
- >The decision was ultimately prompted by a desire to increase tourism
- >and game hunting in Alaska. David Kelleyhouse, of the Alaska Division
- >of Wildlife Conservation, says "We feel we are going to create a wildlife
- >spectacle on a par with the major migrations in East Africa. Mom and
- >pop from Syracuse can come up here and see something that they can't
- >see anywhere else on earth." Kelleyhouse also said that although
- >there are no real shortages of big-game animals in Alaska, the decision
- >is an attempt to make it easier for hunters to kill moose and caribou.
- >
-
-
- Amazing... does this guy have ANY concept of the environment of Alaska?
-
- The animals in the sections of Alaska which are to be affected
- (the area between Anchorage and Fairbanks) have a very low density
- naturally. This is becasue the weather is so cold, and vegetation is
- relatively scarce. The land cannot support large concentrations of
- ungulates. PERIOD! Predator's ranges in the area are huge compared to more
- hospitable areas. I think wolf packs have ranges on the order of
- 150 sq miles...
- For Kelleyhouse to suggest that they can produce a spectacle on the on the
- order of East Africa is ludicrus, they are two entirely different ecosystems.
-
- To suggest that they are doing it to attract sight sightseers is also
- ridiculous... They are doing it for one reason and one reason only: Money.
- They want to be able to issue more hunting permits to out-of-state people for
- big bucks. (and also help out the outfitting industry) How many tourists who
- come up to Alaska leave disappointed because they didn't see amazing
- wildlife?? I was there for two weeks in September and saw tons and tons.
- Yes even caribou and moose... And yes... I am originally from Syracuse!!!
-
- Lastly.. The people of Alaska are against this plan.
- the article in the New York Times gave a statistic of about 80%...
- I feel this is accurate because when I was in Alaska
- I talked to nearly everyone I met about wolf issues... The vast majority
- recognized the wolf's importance, and were against killing for pleasure.
- These people kill a moose so that they can EAT for a winter. They aren't
- weekend warriors from California with too much money and too much free time
- looking for adventure in their life and a head for their Den.
-
- If Alaska decides to kill off the wolves of South-Central Alaska... I will
- not return there. Though I LOVED it. A boycott is the only way
- of getting back at the State Government.
-
-
-
- >Randy Smith, director of the Alaska Outdoor Council, said that if the
- >state did not begin killing wolves it would take too long to build up
- >the moose and caribou herds.
-
- BULLSHIT... plain and simple. If they are interested in
- preserving the herds, they shouldn't allow hunting by non-alaskans.
- There are not that many people in Alaska and there are enough ungulates
- for both man and wolf.
-
- BTW, the plan also mentions that they are going to kill an unspecified nunber
- of Bears... The reason for this kill is not clear... Bears do not
- have a major impact on Caribou/Moose herds. Though bears WILL kill one
- if possible, they are most vegatarians.
- Again, I can only see money as the motivating factor... they want to make
- money by issuing more permits for bear hunting...
-
-
- >Now, the information:
-
-
- Does anyone have addresses for Alaska State Legislators?
- I'm sure they would be as influential as the Washington representatives.
- Also, they would be more interested in any loss of tourist dollars due to
- a boycott.
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