Caribou

Two subadult brown bears walk along a beach in Katmai National Park and Preserve in June 2018.

Alaska Board of Game proposes new rules for bear-killing program intended to help caribou hunters

According to a public notice published on June 6, the board will meet in July in Anchorage to consider changing the state’s predator control program to allow the killing of “brown and black bears in addition to wolves to aid in the recovery of the Mulchatna caribou herd.”

A subadult brown bear sniffs the air as it walks across the tundra in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Aug. 10, 2023. Critics of the state's predator-control program say officials failed to adequately analyze impacts to bear populations, including animals that roam in Katmai.

Science and Environment

Restraining order on Alaska bear cull to be in place until state fixes identified legal flaws

Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin, in an order issued May 19, said the department’s decision to shoot bears earlier this month in violation of a previous court ruling justified her decision to keep the temporary restraining order in place beyond the 10 days that is standard in Alaska law.

A brown bear walks on the tundra in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Aug. 11, 2023. Critics of the state's bear-culling program, which is aimed at boosting Mulchatna Caribou Herd numbers, say Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials have failed to adequately analyze impacts to bear populations, including impacts to bears that roam in Katmai.

Politics

Judge says Alaska bear-killing program remains void, despite emergency authorization

Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

An emergency declaration by the Alaska Board of Game does not change the fact that the program is unconstitutional and the state failed to do required fixes, the judge ruled.

A brown bear wades through river water in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Aug. 12, 2023. The Alaska Wildlife Alliance is seeking a restraining order and injunction to prevent the state from carrying out a third bear-killing season in its program to reduce predators in the area of the state used by the Mulchatna Caribou Herd.

Politics

Environmental group asks Alaska court to halt this year’s bear-killing program

Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

If the state Department of Fish and Game predator control takes place, it would be the third year of a program that has so far killed 180 bears and 19 wolves.

A young adult brown bear walks in front of a forested area in Katmai National Park and Preserve on June 16, 2018. The Alaska Board of Game approved an emergency regulation allowing the Department of Fish and Game to conduct a third season of predator control to kill bears in the area of Western Alaska used by the ailing Mulchatna Caribou Herd. Critics of the program believe it puts Katmai bears at risk.

Hunting & Fishing

Alaska Board of Game approves petition for emergency predator control

Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

The board’s action allows the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to continue killing bears and wolves for a third season in the range of the shrunken Mulchatna caribou herd.

A subadult brown bear stands on June 8, 2018, on the shore of Naknek Lake in Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Politics

Alaska officials seek emergency rule to continue bear-killing program, despite court ruling

Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

A predator-control program in Western Alaska, recently ruled unconstitutional, is needed to boost the ailing Mulchatna caribou herd, state game managers say.

Four brown bears line up at the top of the falls on the Brooks River on Sept. 6, 2021, to fish for salmon. Brooks Falls draws bears from around the region, as well as Katmai National Park and Preserve tourists who travel there to view the bear crowds.

Hunting & Fishing

Anchorage judge rules state’s brown bear killings are unconstitutional

James Brooks | Alaska Beacon

Alaska has killed more than 200 bears as part of its "intensive management" program intended to help a caribou herd.

Public Safety

Bethel Woman Arrested For Stealing Antlers

Alaska State Troopers say 32-year-old Bethel resident Kenlynn Nicholai was arrested in Bethel after allegedly stealing and selling antlers.Wildlife…