Although only 225 rare Alexander Archipelago wolves remain on Prince of Wales Island, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that hunters will be allowed to hunt and trap 45 wolves on Prince of Wales and associated islands this fall and winter hunting season, and on federal lands no less.
Any hunting or trapping of these rare wolves is already controversial.
The Alexander Archipelago wolf is a genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf that dens in the roots of old-growth trees in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Its populations are already fragile, threatened by logging and hunting.
Three years ago, after a 60% drop in the population in just one year, the wolves were feared endangered and twice petitioned to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed that protecting them under the ESA “may be warranted.”
Despite this, Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow hunters to hunt and trap 20% of the Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales while U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to undermine safeguards for the Tongass’s centuries-old trees – the only home for these wolves and their prey.
(Canis lupus ligoni ) is a highly threatened subspecies of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). Smaller than most wolves, the Alexander Archipelago Wolf typically measures 3 ½ feet long, 2 feet high, and weigh 30-50 lbs, with black or other dark colored fur. Their primary prey is the Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis), but they will also prey on moose, mustelids, small mammals, birds, and salmon.
They require dense undeveloped, old-growth temperate rainforest for their habitat and for raising their young. They are found on the southeast coast of Alaska, as well as on Alaska’s major islands in the Alexander Archipelago. The wolves travel freely between the various archipelago islands, making it difficult to keep track of their population. Their primary habitat largely falls within Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in North America.
Source
Any hunting or trapping of these rare wolves is already controversial.
The Alexander Archipelago wolf is a genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf that dens in the roots of old-growth trees in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Its populations are already fragile, threatened by logging and hunting.
Three years ago, after a 60% drop in the population in just one year, the wolves were feared endangered and twice petitioned to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed that protecting them under the ESA “may be warranted.”
Despite this, Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow hunters to hunt and trap 20% of the Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales while U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to undermine safeguards for the Tongass’s centuries-old trees – the only home for these wolves and their prey.
(Canis lupus ligoni ) is a highly threatened subspecies of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). Smaller than most wolves, the Alexander Archipelago Wolf typically measures 3 ½ feet long, 2 feet high, and weigh 30-50 lbs, with black or other dark colored fur. Their primary prey is the Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis), but they will also prey on moose, mustelids, small mammals, birds, and salmon.
They require dense undeveloped, old-growth temperate rainforest for their habitat and for raising their young. They are found on the southeast coast of Alaska, as well as on Alaska’s major islands in the Alexander Archipelago. The wolves travel freely between the various archipelago islands, making it difficult to keep track of their population. Their primary habitat largely falls within Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in North America.
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I am sickened and sorrowful. leave them alone!!! do we have to fight with our own guns to stop this out of control killing?????
It has been proven with the "Experiment" of introducing Wolves to Yellowstone Park, they have greatly IMPROVED the ecosystem and kept the populations of other species in control. They have renewed streams and grasslands, allowed trees to regrow where as before they were being decimated by deer. Wolves are an important part of the ecosystem and it has been scientifically PROVEN. LEAVE THE WOLVES ALONE. We need them. This blood lust for MURDERING all the beautiful animals will leave nothing but the most invasive species on the planet. We have fucked it up enough already. Murdering ANY ANIMAL in a National Forest or Park should be absolutely PROHIBITED. The lead in bullets ALSO causes environmental harm, poisoning countless birds of pray every year.
Karma's gonna get you.
Any petitions ?????
Just leave them alone as there ain't many left they am beautiful creatures WOLVES RULE
What the hell!!!! They are already endangered. LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!
Damn crooked & heartless politicians and trophy hunters!!!
This is in no way a good idea. These wolves are treasures for this country. Leave them alone
We don't have to live on Prince of Wales to know the Tongass and its wildlife are not treasured enough by locals. Is killing nearly endangered species what you call fun up there? Grow some compassion for them!
Ok its been reported on- WHAT can be done to stop it? petition? address of who to protest to?
THIS IS SO SICKENING
This is what you get when you vote for Trump and/or his cronies. They earlier declared war on all predators by shifting all management decision making regarding National Forests and National Parks to the State of Alaska. The Good Ole'Boy regiment rules again.
What can we do to stop this needless carnage atrocity? What with the collapse of the EPA (thanks to Trump), the indifference to the vital part of the eco-system these highly endangered wolves play, it's so heart-breaking.....
if you want to hunt, build a time machine and go back to the stone age
how can we help these wolves? we should just crowdfund to get a shit ton of land and employ people to protect private refuges from hunters.
Leave them alone! They are needed. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem
This is barbaric!!! They have a place on this Earth!