Are They Out of Their Minds in Alaska?

On March 8, 2006, Mary Cuellar wrote:

Have a heart Governor Murkowski. The animals belong to God,
not you.

On March 8, 2006, Barbara Harvey wrote:

My son-in-law and daughter wanted to take a cruise to Alaska but my granddaughter and I convinced them that we would rather be ANYWHERE BUT ALASKA until they stop shooting wolves.

On March 9, 2006, colleen o'brien wrote:

a good place to post them would be vancouver, b.c. the cruise ships head out of here to go to alaska. but, you know, i do not think there is much respect in alaska or the yukon for animals. there never has been and there never will be. people have a certain romantic notion about alaska and the yukon. in canada, our romantic notion is newfoundland. however, that might be about to change drastically.

On March 9, 2006, Anna wrote:

I just hope this can be stop.I Don’t like to see Animals made into coats.I would Never wear a coat made out an Animal.

On March 10, 2006, Hannah wrote:

Listen Up. Fur is evil! Used to people HAD to wear fur coats to keep warm same with meat now they do it for fashion! You know you sit down with your little kid watching 101 Dalmatians and feeling all bad for those puppies then you go out to eat later with your fur coat on. HELLO — Anyone that wears fur needs some help because it is not right! Animals have feelings

Recently me and my best friend were at the mall this crazy woman walked by advertising a fur shop and wearing fur herself. She asked my mom if she wanted a brochure my mom was about to say NO! because she is against fur too but me and my friend told her to get lost! Then we put on a play about how mean fur is!

On March 10, 2006, Daniel Hoover wrote:

If we boycott Alaska, we wont be accomplishing much. What we need to do is go to Alaska and have the laws changed. Through petitions, advertisements, assemblies, and boycotts of the individual outlets.

[ Blog editors’ note: A tourism boycott of Alaska in 1992 prompted the governor to halt the wolf control program. The next governor may be inclined to bag it, too.
The tourism industry is worth $2 billion to Alaska and tourists travel there to see live, not dead free-living animals. Meanwhile, legal challenges, ads and other interventions are ongoing, and we’re also not inclined to reward the state with sitting on our laurels while the Arctic Refuge is plundered for oil.]

On March 10, 2006, kristin Tribuli wrote:

As an animal lover and protector, I think this attack on wildlife is disgusting. They may walk on all fours but they can see, hear, and HURT the same way we do. Believe it or not they have feelings. They love, nurture, and care the same way that a human cares for their mate or young.

On March 10, 2006, Ramona Coyote wrote:

It has always amazed me how the Sacred Wild Life, brings out the best and the WORST in we 2 legged humans.
I once again join the Boycott, as do my friends and associates.

We do not wish to support: March Madness in Alaska!!!

Thank You for the full page ad, and the legal hours put in on behalf of all wildlife…but especially these wolves.

One HOWL is heard around the globe.

I hope the voice of sanity wins!!!

[Blog editors’ note: Abundant thanks to you, Ramona, in return.]

On March 10, 2006, Maryshka (Chugiak, Alaska) wrote:

Hi, I wanted to let you know not all Alaskan’s approve of what our Board of Game is proposing. I, like others and perhaps a minority, are outraged by this all-out slaughter of wolves and bears to make Alaska into a moose farm. We need exposure about this atrocity. I don’t think boycotting Alaska tourism really work because boycotts with dressed up howling Huskies is perceived as goofy and isn’t taken seriously. Alaska is still a “rough” place so we’ve got to play hardball. That is my opinion based on what I see. I think the judicial route, tying up BoG on issues in court, will make a bigger impact perhaps result in more favorable outcomes for wolves and bears. Boycotts generate attention on the issue but the courts will be where decisions are made to stop aerial wolf slaughter.

[Blog editors’ note: We held more than 200 Howl-In events in from Dec. 2003 - 2005. The recharged boycott is an ad campaign, and some people are endorsing it by sending us photos with the theme “I’d Rather Be Here Than In Alaska,” for our online gallery.]

On March 12, 2006, Angela Rome wrote:

I am upset about the situations going on in Alaska. Killing one animal while hunting is bad enough. However killing the other animal, just so it won’t mess up hunting season, is without a doubt cruel and unfair.

On March 12, 2006, dave wrote:

it amazes me at this day and age the FAA and HOMELAND SECURITY would permit this type of thing to go on. a bunch of people flying around shooting guns out of air plains to contol wildlife. what next,laser guided missiles to contol the squirrel population,don’t let me put any ideas in your head. and then a governor complaining about the state’s image,if you want to clean up the image , start with the governor,he created this mess,let him clean it up.this boycott is going to cost people in the tourist industry money,not only the state needed revenue. even if you’re for or against the wolf hunt,if you’re in the tourist industry, your going to lose possible income,mayby the governor will pay any losses of income out of his own pay. right,try collecting that.i know if somebody came up with some hairbrain idea that was going to cost me potential income ,they would definitely be hearing from me. this hunt is not going to solve anything and except distance tourist’s from visiting alaska.and people seem to remember wrongs more than they do rights. this boycott is getting a lot of publicity ,so if you’re in the tourist industry or have friends in it, you might want to speak out. i don’t believe alot of alaskians are going to actually benefit from the slaughter of these wolves.but i do believe a lot could lose potential income from the boycott. but that’s up to the people of alaska to decide which is more important,pleasing a few or pleasing a lot.

On March 13, 2006, irene wrote:

i can not believe what is going on in alaska. killing innocent animals as one person said they are gods creatures. he put them on earth just like humans.i cannot understand how a person can aim a gun at an animal who just looks for food like we do. they are mean mean people, can they sleep at night i hope not. alaska is a mean state that allows this to go on. you need a lot of petitions and the governor of alaska is a person who should do kindly deeds instead of thinking about killing innocent creatures. it makes me sick at heart. i have a cat who i adore and is better than a lot of people.

On March 13, 2006, Shawn Cox wrote:

It is so sickening that you people have no idea about what is going on here in Alaska. Caribou and moose populations in some areas have dropped by 65% because of wolf predation. If you don’t live here, stay the hell out of our business.

[Blog editors’ note: Alaska’s treatment of wolves is, indeed, our business; free-living wolves don’t belong to Alaska or any other state. The world community has something to say about Alaska’s draconinan measures known as predator control. As The New York Times editorialized: “There’s nothing sporting about deploying an air force to hunt animals.” ]

On March 13, 2006, gary c. wrote:

All that is missing from the game board’s ongoing wolf killing scenario is the angry mob of pitchfork wielding, torch carrying villagers. Again the arrogant, self regulating “game” board has chosen to add another unethical, cruel and inhumane “solution” to a predator problem that doesn’t exist. “Hunters” (i use that term very loosely), will now be allowed to run down and shoot wolves from a snowmachine, though, being kind hearted, the game board says the snowmachine has to be stopped. And oh yeah, no shooting cross the highway. Why not just allow nukes and be done with it.

It’s all about ethics. Would these same game board members shoot ducks sitting on a pond? Would they snag salmon off the spawn beds? Would they keep and kill a trout in a catch and release area? It’s all about ethics.When i began hunting and fishing I was taught that these practices were wrong, if not illegal and that the quarry should have an equal chance to live as to die. Maybe that thought doesn’t exist in the game board’s charter. And yes, those out there will come back by saying that wolves/bears/etc are inhumane, cruel and unethical. Well, they are supposed to be, they have been doing it for 10,000 years! It’s genetic what they do. Man is the reasoning animal and can choose his actions. Man is supposed to be advancing and ridding himself of his primitive past.

Maybe not!

Today’s Anchorage Daily News reports that the fish and game finally admits that they really don’t have enough information on how their wolf predator program is affecting the moose population. Their budget has been cut back and surveys are not being run as often as they would like. In essence, the state is admitting they really don’t have the recent facts to back up the game board’s need for predator programs. I’m sure the predators killed in the past 3 years would have wished the biologists had come clean sooner.

With actions such as the game board’s, it embarrasses me to say I am a resident of this state.

And oh yeah, don’t come back with that” if ya don’t like it leave it” cliche. Better to stay and try to change things.

Gary C
Eagle River,Ak.

On March 13, 2006, Jim Trombley wrote:

Most Alaskans could care less what those “Outside” think or believe about what we do here. For to long we have had to listen to and try and placate outside influences. From the construction of the pipeline, to the fur trade, to wolves, the list goes on. Each of you have enough problems in your own locations that you should be tending to.

I don’t see you screaming about how the buffalo near Yellowstone have been treated. What about the elk herds that the local ranchers rant and rave about? As for the “air force to hunt animals”, what a bunch of crap. You make it sound as if everyone with a plane and a gun is flying around shooting. When in fact it is a very limited number of registered individuals.

Your half truths and misinterpretations of the facts have successful distorted the information to you and your groups benefit. A successful lie is more effective that letting the truth come out.

Hunting and fishing is a way of life, not just here in Alaska but in most parts of the country. Sure, these are gods creatures (as so many of you like to point out), but god put them here for humans to use. If you prefer to be a vegan then by all means do so but then there are those that argue that plants have feelings (why else would people play music for them and talk to them).

In short, boycott all you want, it just means there will be fewer of you up here plugging up our highways during the summer when the locals are trying to get to their fishing holes. Stay away…. PLEASE…. I hate having to wait in line at Denali National Park while some idiot from “outside” asks really stupid questions like “when to they let the animals outeach day?” DON’T COME TO ALASKA ….. there are plently of others that will. In fact others will come just to see what all the hype is about that you have raised….

As for the blog editor…. how dare you believe that you have the right to add anything to a letter, especially when it is one that disagrees with your opinion…

Jim T
Kenai, Alaska

[Blog editors’ note: How dare we comment on your comment? Perhaps you should get out more.]

On March 13, 2006, gary c. wrote:

Here is a link to story bout Michigan’s Isle Royale wolf-moose interaction and how they handled it. They let moose be moose and wolves be wolves and didn’t bring planes,bait or snowmachines into the equation. Over-managing seems to be Alaska’s problem. And inadequate data.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060311/ap_on_sc/island_wolves

On March 13, 2006, Wendy Duffield wrote:

I have always wanted to visit Alaska but now they can forget it, thank you for making people aware of this practice.

On March 13, 2006, Katie wrote:

Just so you all know, we get more visitors up here to hunt those moose than we’ll lose to this ad campaign. Many of us do not support the aerial hunt, but please get it into your brains that hunting in Alaska is a way of life, and it’s going to stay that way.

[Blog editors’ note: Hello,Katie, get this: A majority of Alaskans voted to ban aerial wolf control in 1996 and 2000. Predator control is not about a way of life or enlightened thinking.

On March 13, 2006, Mark Cunningham wrote:

I am a born and bred Alaskan. I would like to say only: If you are not a resident of Alaska,keep your damn nose out of our fish and game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On March 13, 2006, M. F. wrote:

I DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE WAS OBJECTING TO THIS SHOOTING OF WOLVES FROM AIRPLANES - BUT MY DAUGHTER AND I DO, VIGOROUSLY. I WAS WRONG ONLY IN THAT I UNDERSTOOD TOURISTS WOULD BE SHOOTING ELK, NOT MOOSE. THAT’S EVEN WORSE — IN MAINE THE MOOSE ARE SO TAME ONE CAN WALK RIGHT UP TO THEM AND GO “POW!”

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. CAN’T YOU GET THE ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE TO JOIN YOU?????

On March 13, 2006, Gary V wrote:

I live in the upper part of Michigan the one they call GOD’S
country in the UP of Michigan. Well we are going to have the same problem here as in Alaska. But they are thinking on letting hunters kill them. Because the deer hunters say the wolves are killing all the deer. And that is alot of bull.. Is our Goverment that hard up for cash .

They want to kill the wild horse. For profit

Now it’s the wolves.

Next it’s going to be the grizzly’s.

What’s next??? Will it ever STOP

I say let them hunt them they way the did BEFORE GUNS And BOWS

And lets see who provales.

On March 13, 2006, Bryce Brucker, Coffman Cove wrote:

[Blog editors’ note: Unfortunately, the following writer misunderstands the campaign. There is absolutely nothing hateful in an advertising campaign geared to pep up public concern again in the “lower 48” and motivate action from within the state. And the Board of Game, well, if they’ve taken leave of their senses, then someone has to point it out. Don’t shoot the messengers. Some of us Friends of Animals live in Alaska too, you know. We respect Alaska residents, but let’s keep the focus on the wolves.]

I think starting a hate campaign is bad for all sides. sure the wolves need protection, but the people of alaska depend on subsistence hunting and fishing to feed their families and communities. wolves population in areas have increased to the point were the wolves are starving to death because they have killed out their food source. I think Alaska department of fish and game has tried to keep up with the demands of managing the vast area of alaska . Maybe giving some advice and sitting down and talking about a solution than spending the dollars on hate campaigns and bashing the people of alaska would make more sence. I love Alaska but most of all the people here is what make this place a Great place to live.

On March 14, 2006, Erin Murray wrote:

I am a resident of Fairbanks, Alaska, and I do not see any reason why people that do not live here should try to save our wildlife.
I understand your concern for these animals, but you have obviously not taken into consideration the fact that there are hundreds of villages of Alaska Natives that rely on subsistence hunting to survive. These people depend on wolf control to keep the moose and caribou populations up, so that they can have enough food to eat throughout the year. Is this organization putting the lives of animals above human life?

Also, I do not see any need for tourists to boycot travels to our wonderful state. Wolf control keeps the wolf popultions in check, they are not out to destroy every pack in the state. There are still plenty of wolves for the tourists to enjoy. Furthermore, the tourism industry is a very large part of our economy. Alaska would probably fall into an economic slump if enough people decided not to travel here.

The people involved in this organization are obviously out of their minds. They encourage economic decline and protest the survival of hundreds of rural villages. So here’s a new slogan for you: I’d rather be out of my mind than in yours.

[Blog editors’ note: That’s fine; there is little danger of your occupying our minds. By the way, in the years that aerial wolf control was disallowed, did the people of Alaska appear to be suffering as though from the Potato Famine? Did many of Alaska’s residents immigrate to the Lower 48 and open pubs?]

On March 14, 2006, K.F. wrote:

Get off your damn high horse.I live in Alaska and do believe in the protection of animals,however in the small village I live in we depend on moose for our subsistence. Most of us grow our own vegetables and live off of the land who are you to tell us how to live???When you become an Alaskan then speak, until then shut the hell up!!!!!!!

On March 14, 2006, out for the blog editor! wrote:

dude you should be banned from breeding, you retard, to think of you reproducing at all is bad for the environment… that stuff you say about the potato famine is so wrong, what are you tring to say about alaskans? I should find you and kick your ass. you have such a ass backward view on the world I feel sorry for the dead part of your brain that actually lets you think before you do something…

On March 14, 2006, Jim Trombley wrote:

Drawing a comparison between Michigan?s Isle Royale and Alaska is not logical. Isle Royale is 850 square miles. The area in Alaska that is experiencing predator control is many, many times larger than that. Aerial control is the most effective method of covering such a large area. A subsistance lifestyle takes priority over sports hunting and the areas affected are predominantly used for subsistance living.

Jim T
Kenai, AK

[Blog editors’ note: The Board of Game is meeting now with schemes to expand the wolf control area, but currently, the aerial shooting is allowed in a 50,000 square mile area — equal to the size of Alabama. There’s also unlimited use of snowmachine-hunting allowed in unofficial areas. Anyway, there’s no scientific or ethical justification for this abuse, and no real need to shoot wolves so that people are fed. Apologists for wolf control actually want to kill predators. They’re interested in numbers, nothing more.]

On March 14, 2006, gary c. wrote:

katie wrote: Just so you all know, we get more visitors up here to hunt those moose than we?ll lose to this ad campaign.

if there are so few moose, why are out of staters allowed to hunt in that area? perhaps it’s the out of staters hunting that is causing low numbers. therefore, wouldn’t you encourage boycott of alaska by out of staters to increase the moose numbers? boycott is a GOOD thing then.

G.C.
E.R.,Ak.

On March 14, 2006, Steve Durnam wrote:

I currently live in the “lower 48” but own property in Alaska and consider Alaska as my second home. I plan to move my family there in the next year or so. I say the Alaska department of wildlife resources knows what they are doing and support their actions. If you were familiar with the Alaska way of life you would know that many Alaskans, especially in the remote areas (much of Alaska) depend on Moose and other animals in order to eat and do not kill animals for “sport”. If the wolf population is left unchecked these animals used for food will have a difficult time surviving.

[ Blog editors’ note: You’ve listened to the state’s wolf control proponents for too long. A wildlife scientist in Alaska whose research FoA sponsors disagrees in his testimony to the Board of Game this week, and in his March 2006 Abstract: “The Case Against Wolf and Bear Control In Alaska.” Dr. Gordon Haber’s opening sentence: The existing data do not support allegations of moose and moose-hunting problems in five large areas of Alaska where wolf-bear control is underway.” Haber defines the biological, scientifc and ethical costs of the control program which are ignored by the state when the state is selling its predator control program.]

On March 14, 2006, Erin Murray wrote:

I agree with Nathan. I would love to see the people that started this organization to move to the most remote village above the Arctic Circle and try to survive for a year. Vegetables won’t grow for most of the year because of the snow and cold weather. No Kwik-E-Mart out there for you to go buy supplies, either, and the only way to get to a town with stores is by plane. So how will you all eat? The only answer is to hunt for whatever animals you can get, and most of the time only moose and caribou are available. ..

[Blog editors’ note: The stories are really spinning now. The state’s wolf control program isn’t in the Arctic Circle, for starters. Dentists and lawyers fly their planes into wolf control regions for the joy of smashing the life out of an animal that has a much tougher time trying to eke out a living in Alaska than any of the dentists, lawyers, or story-tellers who post here.]

On March 14, 2006, The Truth wrote:

The truth is if we do not help to control the Wolf and Bear population, even those 2 animals will suffer from starvation or even canabalism. and since the bears and wolves dont know/care about the population of moose, caribou, deer, and other defenseless animals, they will just keep eating and eating those animals untill they are no more, and after that they will start eating their young, then they will turn on themselves for food (doesnt that sound worse than controling the problem, before it gets too bad?). ..
if you spent as much time as the people that work for the Fish & Game Board for alaska on this subjsect then you might know the severity of the problem, untill then why dont you worry about the problems ini your own states, like the Growing Murder Rate in our country (which I must say, there are more than 600+ people killed everyday in this country of ours, why dont you boycott the murder of humans? or is that not even a problem to you?) or polution of your huge citys, global warming…

On March 14, 2006, Kitlyn Rescinito wrote:

We should not interfere with nature.

And it seems that when we do, it causes another animal to become threatened or to suffer.

I wonder if the Government told the public the same thing as they are saying now………when they completely wiped out the entire population of Gray Wolves and Mexican Gray Wolves in the lower 48 states.

Such a shame.

On March 14, 2006, George Graham wrote:

Only man could come up with such a ridiculous plan. Amazing, kill one animal so we can kill more of another kind of animal. I pray somehow this plan can be “aborted”.

On March 15, 2006, Joseph Pastore wrote:

Open Letter to Governor Murkowski,

Alaska’s aerial wolf control program is unconscionable! I would respectfully suggest that you could at least publicly explain why other humane measures cannot be employed, or if in fact Alaska has tried other measures without success.

Years ago, our family toured Alaska and considered it the best trip we ever took. We’ll never forget the tour guide in Denali National Park saying that “we never lost a species in the park; ours is a completely natural ecosystem and we never interfere with the animals.”

I would also respectfully suggest that you consider what a positive national and world-wide impact you would have if you thought “outside-the-box” to find a way to end this diminishment of humanity.

We’d love to return to Alaska someday, but obviously we cannot in good conscience, until this horror is ended.

Sincerely,

Joseph Pastore

Flushing, NY

On March 15, 2006, Heather wrote:

Why must we constantly be hunting something? Ever hear “live and let live?”

On March 15, 2006, Joanne wrote:

This is soooo cruel and unecessary. We need to preserve the wildlife not destroy. Something must be done to help the innocent slaughtering of our wildlife.

On March 15, 2006, Bob Wallace wrote:

Great ad of the Alasks Wolf slaughter.
Why not reposition the lettering a bit, and offer it as a bumper sticker?

On March 15, 2006, Peggy wrote:

Here’s my issue. Leave the moose and the wolves both alone. Nature works everything out on it’s own. Ever take science class? If you did you would understand. It’s called a food chain. If hunters didn’t go to kill the moose for sport (killing for food is a different all together) the wolves would have food. There would be no shortage on young moose. But people always interfer. How many rich people go to Alaska, or Africa, etc. just to kill for sport. They want a trophy. DON’T put the blame where it doesn’t belong. Humans have always ruined wildlife.

On March 15, 2006, Michelle M.C. Melvin wrote:

Come on people if you wanna go and kill things join Bush.Go to help our soldiers and help them out.Leave the animals alone and let nature have a hand in it. What came first the chicken or the egg? I believe the wolves have been here a long time before us and they are very spiritual animals.

On March 15, 2006, MARY LEARN wrote:

We as human beings should be ashamed of ourselves. These blessed beings have every right to be here. Their food is the moose, rabbits, deer and other creatures. The only take the young, old or ill animals. The weaker ones usually. This makes the stock stronger. Hunters are defeating the purpose of hunting wolves then hunting the moose. Man takes for greed and fur. He does not care about the stock only their trophies. I will never go to Alaska. These poor animals have been hunted for years. They still need our protection. They have family structures and care for the young, old and feel pain and loss. What right do we have to take this away from them!! They have and earned their right to be alive and live a free life from torture and hate and ignorance.

Leave them be.!!!

Mary in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada

On March 15, 2006, Linda Camac wrote:

Isn’t it obvious that the big bad hunters are competing with the social, intelligent wolf for eating their focus of their blood sport “the moose” - well, one could say now their blood sport is the wolf. They should be ARRESTED! It is immoral and should be illegal to allow any idiot all rights to do whatever they deem to non-human animals. Give a permit to any sadistic coward to have “sport” with defenseless animals. This world sickens me.

On March 15, 2006, Andy Brown wrote:

Besides the obvious ridiculousness of this form of legalized hunting and its argument that it’s to allow others to shoot more moose, what kind of a person or hunter would even want to fly down on a wolf in a helicopter and shoot it? How could you call yourself a man or a hunter or a warrior or whatever? You are just killers.

On March 15, 2006, Richard S. Riggs wrote:

I’d like to visit Alaska, but I won’t while the present insane and greedy gov’t is in power. They have established a pattern wanting to rip the country off by buiding a many million dollar bridge for 50 people, wanting to destroy the pristine wilderness of ANWAR so that there will be more oil to spill on the Tundra or in Macmurdo Bay and killing wolves so the ecology of the area can be damaged by too many moose who will also have to be killed therefore maybe making a few bucks on hunting trips and taxidermy. These are people I want nothing to do with.

On March 15, 2006, dave wrote:

this is for the nay-sayers of the wolf hunt,you don’t know how ridiculous it sounds to create an air force to control wildlife, if there’s any truth to the reasons posted on this site for justifying the kill. after reading them it sounds more like you don’t have a wolf problem, but a problem getting supplies and at a reasonable price. 8.00 for milk, 4.40 for gas, nearest store over 100 miles and this is why you’re forced to hunt for your meals and do whatever it takes to survive.well i agree with you those prices are a rip off, and i know i would never pay that. and as far as having to travel 100 miles to go to the store, that can be easily solved by having what you need shipped to you. if you receive mail, you can receive packages. you obviously have access to the internet, so there’s no reason you can’t get what you need at a click off a button. and for the einstein that came up with slaughter the wolf and the moose will flourish, what are you going to do to get that rolling, give the moose viagra? nature takes its good old time to change things,and whenever man puts his hands in the pot, he usually screws things up worse. as far as the moose and wolf is concerned, let nature take its course. nature’s been around a lot longer than we have, didn’t need our help then, and doesn’t need our help now. so when i hear stay out, mind your own bussiness, you don’t live here, you don’t know what it’s like, it sounds like B.S. to me. too late to save the shoes, better roll up the pants.

[Blog editors’ note: Sounds like bs to us, too. Dillingham, where several of the complainers live, is one of the main commercial fishing towns in roadless SW Alaska. Supplies and tourists arrive by aircraft and boat.

Dillingham is the fastest growing city in Bristol Bay, replete with two grocery stores and two banks. It’s billed as a “paradise for boating and hunting.” Dillingham is also claiming they want wolf control — so take that all into consideration when their residents whine about the price of gas.

On March 15, 2006, MaryAnn wrote:

This is outrageous. What is the matter with mankind. Leave the wolves alone. It appears that the people allowing this as well as the people shooting these beautiful animals are heartless idiots and need to get a life of their own.

On March 15, 2006, Louis Novellino wrote:

With respect to the aerial wolf-slayers in Alaska, the pup-killers in Canada, the canned hunters in Texas game parks, the poachers in Africa’s wildlife parks, I have concluded that they are not humans at all, but devils in human form. These devils would not only have abandoned the six huskies and two malamutes in “Eight Below,” but shot them first—after all, were not those sled dogs (and all dogs) descended from the wolf? The wolf is not the devil.

On March 15, 2006, Chelsie wrote:

This is for Dave and the Blog editor:

We are not whining or looking for pitty out here in the bush, yes things are expensive. We are fully aware of shipping things out here, but things have been so bad economically that a good majority cannot afford to right now. Most of the guiding lodges around here are all owned by non-native entities.

When we kill Moose or Caribou out here we don’t waste anypart of the animal. We use the hide for clothing, the meat for food to feed out families. Our ancestors taught us to respect the wildlife and if we do that they will give themselves to us to take. We don’t just go around hooting and hollering shooting animals for the fun of it just to it take back as a trophy. We have to many of those kind of people poulting our town in the summer and fall coming out here just to kill an animal for the antlers, isn’t that sad, not all the people coming out here are all about that but a majority of them are. So i just wanted to give you another perspective that we’re not a bunch of crazy natives toting guns killing every animal we see. Yes I am from Dillinhgam as well and proud of where I live and what I eat.

[Blog editors’ note: Many villagers in Eagle and Chicken also shoot moose, but vigorously oppose wolf and bear control. You should, too. Dillingham is pressing for wolf control — as corrupt an idea as we’ve heard.

On March 15, 2006, Corey wrote:

If your boycott efforts work, and I must stress IF, you will mainly be hurting businesses which have nothing to do with the decision making process on predator control. You are trying to make a point at the expenses of people independent of the issues at hand.

[Blog editors’ note: Alaska’s ever-expansive aerial wolf-shooting to make moose hunting easier, is a national disgrace. Tourists who contribute to the second most important source of revenue for Alaska come to see live animals, not dead ones. That the Board of Game is now encouraging people on snowmachines to chase and slaughter wolves, in addition to deploying an air force to kill them, should blow any sane person’s mind.

On March 15, 2006, Audrey wrote:

What else can we do besides this photo boycott campaign?

Blog editors’ note: Support Friends of Animals interventions and legal fund for Alaska’s wolves through your donations, and encourage others to boycott travel to Alaska until the wolf control program is cancelled.

On March 15, 2006, Bob wrote:

Seems there are a lot of “subsistence hunters” in Alaska — they hunt to survive, not for sport. I’m a “subsistence worker” down in the lower 48 — I work to survive, not for sport, and certainly not for fun. I’ve seen tough times too. Difference is, if I am living in a place where I can’t make a living, I have to say good-bye to friends and move the family to where I can find a job. I don’t ask or expect the GOVERNMENT to make a job for me — yet some of these Alaskan subsistence hunters want the GOVERNMENT to manipulate wildlife populations just so they don’t have to move. From where I sit, that just doesn’t seem fair. And anyone who has lived in Alaska for a long time knows that’s not how it used to be.

On March 15, 2006, Ken & Cherie Mason wrote:

We really did cancel a trip to Alaska because of the wolf killing. We sent a copy of our letter to the travel company to GOV. Murkowski and the Alaska Tourist Board. We didn’t hear from them but an Alaskan newspaper called to interview us. A lot of good it did! We’re back to square one.

[Blog editors’ note: We share your frustration. When good people do nothing, the governor says nobody cares. That’s why action matters; dissent counts and economic boycotts carry weight. Over history, sometimes boycotts have taken years, even decades to produce change. The governor’s term will expire in two years and wolf and bear control should be an issue for the gubernatorial campaign. ]

On March 15, 2006, Stefani Kruczkiewicz wrote:

what Alaska is doing to the Wolves is so barbaric and should be stopped once and for all. the air and shoot method is extremely cruel and unfair to the wolves, they do not stand a chance to survive via this method, only cowards, which many hunters are, will hunt this way where the animal does not stand a chance to survive. please put an end to this cruel air and shoot hunt now! let the wolves be to live in peace.

On March 15, 2006, Olivia wrote:

Re the dentists and lawyers the blog editor referred to in response to Erin Murray’s March 14, 2006, post: I would rather have my teeth rot than patronize a thrill-seeking hunter/dentist, and I would rather stand trial defending myself than pay a thrill-seeking hunter/lawyer.

EDITOR: Your advertisement is compelling. QUESTION: Have you thought about running it in The American Conservative magazine, to awaken conservatives’ humane-ity?

When we love animals and THEIR environment as much as we love ourselves, there will be no need to stay away from Alaska. But if we keep up the killing, and bring in the drilling, we won’t even WANT to visit. Meantime, I’m on board the boycott.

On March 15, 2006, Nancy Levine wrote:

I’m a preschool teacher and I tell my children that all “creatures great and small” are cherished. We even save spiders at my school. Why harm such a beautiful animal as the wolf? Man is to blame for most of the Earth’s wonderful creations.

Nancy Levine

On March 15, 2006, sophie wrote:

What they are doing to the wolves in alaska is so unbelieveble it is so barbaric and cruel that its totally out of my mind me and my family will not be traviling to Alaska until this barbaric act is stopped

On March 15, 2006, Ann McManus wrote:

This is so sad. There is something mentally wrong with anyone that can do something like this. They should sit these people down and show them documentarys on female wolves taking care of young that does not even belong to them.

On March 16, 2006, Patricia Boyle wrote:

Absolutely inhumane and cruel behavior. I can assure you that I will not be travelling to Alaska to give them any of my hard-earned money. Maybe an international broadcast would put a dent in their tourist industry, especially the cruise ships that travel there.

On March 16, 2006, joni soffron wrote:

How can an individual call themselves a hunter when they use mechanized vehicles to chase the wolves to exhaustion then shoot them.

I have immense respect for what FOA is doing and support them 100% even tho I do not share all of their philosophies.

My husband raised our boys that if you shoot it you eat it. I am not a supporter of sport hunting, killing for the sake of killing, however I do understand that in many parts of the world hunting for food is a necessary evil.

In our own lower 48 we could have learned so much about ethics and morality from our Native Peoples but we wiped them out too.

I understand that the Native population in Alaska have the same respect in most cases, you use all of what you hunt. What about the old Alaskan Native belief that the wolf means healthy populations of food sources.

We as a society should be ashamed that we now believe that we are the most sophisticated species on Earth, boy do we have alot to learn.

Science and the natural workings of the environment are very clear.

We the human species are indeed Nature’s Cancer. If we showed some respect for the circle of life Mother Earth would not be in the intensive care unit as she is today..

As far as we in the lower 48 having no right to comment or act, bull, the last time I checked we are all inhabitants of one world, one Earth.

On March 16, 2006, Heidi Williams wrote:

I can’t understand why people have no hearts for animals. Everyday we see sad stories on the news. I will not go to Alaska until this stops. I also have a friend who was going in April but now she won’t. Unbelieveble. I’m for BOYCOTT ALASKA!!!

On March 16, 2006, Georgia Hall wrote:

I’ve always planned a trip to Alaska but I will go ANYWHERE ELSE (well, not Canada) to avoid supporting such insanity! This is as evil as the Canadian Seal “Hunts”.

On March 17, 2006, Danny Poupaert wrote:

I’m living in Belgium but I care of the wolfs in Alaska,
We need them , don’t shoot them for nothing.

It’s a evil sport,If you are a man fight with them with equal weapons.

Danny

On March 17, 2006, Mieke wrote:

Has the world gone crazy????

I think all people that hurt or kill animals, should be treated the same way as they did to animals!!!!!
The world would be a so much better place to live in!

On March 17, 2006, Moira wrote:

Please stop this cruel practice.

Animals are not just there for us to go around needlessy killing them. It is a barbaric practice to kill animals for sport. For survial, I understand. But it is not sport when the animal has no chance. It is so cruel.

Moira

On March 17, 2006, Bent Plum wrote:

I’m living in Denmark but I care of the wolfs and baby seals in Alaska.

We need them, why shoot them for nothing?

On March 17, 2006, ~Lady Hetty~ wrote:

I just hope this can be stop!!! Don’t like to see animals made into coats. I would never wear a coat made out an animal.

On March 17, 2006, N. Nijman wrote:

Because I love animals…

On March 17, 2006, gary wrote:

I just read today’s paper. The Bush administration is proposing to remove the grey wolf from the endangerd species in Michigan.

On March 18, 2006, Mary Ann S. wrote:

Ok, Here I go again. This is a discussion my B/F & I have often. It usually ends in an arguement. We live in Alaska & he is FOR the wolf hunts & I am AGAINST them. This year when Anchorage allowed the hunt for moose because of over population; although it was only a few moose killed, it made me shake my head & ask what the hell is wrong with these people??? Shooting moose in Anchorage, too few moose in some places, & moose STARVING to death last year in Kenai & Soldotna. Now doesn’t that make ya shake YOUR heads? I know several people that hunt, that every year they have to throw moose meat away just so they can go hunt another moose! Mostly for the antlers I think. I know people that have SEVERAL antlers already in their back yards that are just sitting there. But maybe this year they’ll get the BIG one? OK, for my 2 cents worth on the people/natives that HAVE to hunt for subsistence; why do most of them have brand new snowmachines? Didn’t they use the wolves ages ago for transportation? Shouldn’t they be for saving the wolves?
Mary Ann S Kenai Alaska

On March 18, 2006, Mark Collins wrote:

I am a wolf fanatic and it pains me to know people treat these gorgeous animals like they do. They are just trying to survive like everyone else. I admit I have always wanted to go to Alaska to visit but have now changed my mind. If this is the way they treat wildlife, how do they expect me to believe they treat people better? I takes a weak indidvidual to shoot a wolf from the air than to face it straight on. They are COWARDS!!!!!! If I could bring a few down to where I live they would be more than welcome. Some people have no heart and no brains. I am going to donate to the cause and will try to do my part to help these noble creatures because I’d rather be ANYWHERE than ALASKA!!!!!!
Mark S. Collins

On March 18, 2006, Lisa Hasbrouck wrote:

Nature had a perfect balance before man decided to interfere. The wolf has always been the natural predator of the moose. Be not fooled, the hunters and game commissions in this country decide which animal will flourish and which will disappear. It is all very contrived for the revenue hunting brings to each state - from bullets, to electric warming socks and licenses there is money to be made on the backs of these animals. Think, what is wrong with this picture - man is culling the herd of moose, supposedly because there are too many moose, and yet at the same time killing the natural predator of the moose, which would help keep the balance? Let’s be honest, this is a blood sport that the wolf is interfering with and thus now has joined the moose in becoming a prime target. People, it is all about money, dominence, and blood lust for the cowards of this world.

On March 19, 2006, ann wrote:

Why do people feel compelled to kill innocent animals….di you know that ‘humans’ are the only thing on the plante that kill for no reason….except for ‘sport’ or for deliberate torture or for profit…animal’s only kill for food or for aggression aganist them. They do not deliberately PLAN out high powered machinery attacks. So, if the hunters must hunt… then they should have to do it without guns or knives or bows or any ‘inventions’ or ANY machinery …they should have to do it TOTALLY naturally like animals.
God created beautiful animals… why not save them…not kill them for ‘useless sport’.

On March 19, 2006, Trapper wrote:

I never thought I would be on the same side of an argument as Friends of Animals……but I am! I am a trapper and hunter and have spent time in Alaska and other areas that wolves live. In fact, I have researched wolves for over 5 years. While I usually tend to side with L. David Mech, I think I side with Gordon Haber on this one. There is no reason to run wolves down with planes or snow machines until they collapse, and then shoot them dead. No self respecting hunter should even want to do this. I harvest animals, but I also respect them. This is not respect. It has been documented in the scientific literature (sorry Gordon), that when moose are at low densities, wolves can seriously impact their numbers. And I am all for taking wolves in these situations, or in any place where a healthy wolf population exists (I hear all the shudders), yet they should be taken by fair trapping or hunting (calling), not aerial gunning. If you are too lazy to snowshoe into the backcountry and fairly and properly harvest wolves, then you do not deserve to take a wolf. They are majestic and extremely keen animals that I view with much respect. Joe from NYC has no place shooting a wolf from a plane. If you want to take a wolf, do it the right way…….on his turf……..which nobody from NYC ever could!

P.S. Blog Editor, no need to comment, I know you disagree with any form of trapping and hunting, but that way of thinking is just as looney as aerial hunting. Just be happy that you and I agree on the fact that aerial hunting is wrong!

On March 20, 2006, Jean Grammes wrote:

DON’T KILL THE WOLVES.

On March 20, 2006, Trish Herrmann wrote:

As an Alaska resident, I am ashamed, outraged and sickened at this state’s policies of wolf killing. It deeply saddens me that our culture has fallen asleep and grown silent and complacent to such vital issues. Living with respect to the balance and harmony of nature has been replaced with the overbearing macho culture of take, kill and dominate. Those wolves are not being killed for any other reason than human greed and the need to conquer, destroy and trophy hunt.
I moved to this state 15 years ago because I fell deeply in love with the mountains, ocean, wilderness and animals of this place. It is ‘The last frontier’ or at least it used to be. It breaks my heart that we are destroying it. We keep taking and not giving anything back; Can’t we see there is a limit?! Killing a wolf from a plane or snowmachine is far from respectful, in fact it is utterly inhumane.

Thank you for your advocacy for our four-legged friends, ‘Friends of Animals’; You have my full support.

On March 23, 2006, Jane wrote:

are there too many people in the world that cause too much deaths, and extinctions? and are we supposed to kill some of us to reduce the stress of the eco-system? birth is always better than death. why kill the wolves? why not help the moose to build a larger population? isn’t it better???

choose life, and give a chance for life. the wolves don’t mean to kill moose, as they have to live.

On March 28, 2006, BJ wrote:

To Jane

killing off a few wolves is helping the moose, as they are largely underpopulated and the wolves are well overpopulated. Normally Nature would take its normal course but if a ver hard winter were to come it would be terrible for the moose population as they would probably go on the endangered species list. As a fulltime alaska resident i would know that the wolf program is working

On March 28, 2006, Jeanne from Boston wrote:

My one wish was to travel to Alaska. I finaly made it 4 years ago and was not disapponted. It was wonderful and I planned then on returning. My trip to Denali will always be with me and the guide inspired us all with his insistance that nothing there would be changed by human interference. Each place we visited has its own charm and history—Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, Sitka—but they all share the feeling of freedom and wilderness.
I am new to this issue and will, now, not return to Alaska. Hunting and fishing to survive is one thing; hunting to hang a trophy on your wall is another; and slaudering animals under the “control” umbrella is yet another. The idea that killing one animal to insure another lives to be hunted by a human animal (for big $s) is like something you might see on Ripley’s Believe it or Not.

People of Alaska: please let your politicians know that this is unacceptable by writing them often and by voting them out of office on election day. Your state draws us because of its wildness and beauty. Please don’t let the small number of people and their dollars who come to Alaska solely to hunt drive an issue that may never be corrected once done. You are the champions of your state and everything that lives there. Please stop this aerial hunting!

On March 28, 2006, JBrooks wrote:

I do not think the FoA group gets it - it’s not about killing wolves and bears - it’s about an outside interest group telling those of us in Alaska what we can and cannot do. Worry about your own state and stay out of our’s. I have lived in this state for 41 years and will never leave. I do not agree with all of the Govenor’s ideas, but did vote for him because of his stance on wolf control. I will vote for anyone who will stand up to outside interest groups and tell them to buzz off. I believe in “killin and drillin”. Groups like FoA prey upon the uneducated people of the lower 48 to line their pockets. People need to think for themselves, take some time to find out what life up here is really like before you condem us. You do not have to come up here to educate yourselves, but do not let someone fill your head with the idea that these animals are being killed for the fun of it. For those of you who are in complete support of a boycott - good - you are not wanted up here anyway. Alot of you must think that we Alaskans can hardly wait until tourist season. Yes - a majority of our economy is tourist based - but some of us feel like we are being held hostage. If we Alaskans do not do what the lower 48 wants us to then we get punished. My family owns a tourist oriented business, we have not seen any negitive impacts or lower numbers of tourists because a few wolves have been shot. We will not starve to death or go out of business either if people decide not to visit Alaska. There are places in this state that Alaskans would rather tourists not see. We can be kind of selfish that way. Anyway folks just remember - think for and educate youselves.
JBrooks

Lifetime Alaskan

On March 31, 2006, Juliana Mujica wrote:

I rather be here IN NEW ORLEANS than in Alaska.
And I will boycott everything that comes from there until they stop promoting violence and cruelty to animals.

It is a shame what they do.

On April 9, 2006, gary c wrote:

the alaska game board has postponed till may a lot of the future decisions re: their barbaric predator control measures. guess they figure with spring and everybody onto other things, they could hide what they are doing. does anybody here know when that meeting will be? i’ve looked all over and have yet to find date(s).

thanks
gary c. ER,Ak

[Blog editors’ note: Supposedly the date should fall before May 25. FoA’s legal interventions have impacted how quickly the Board moves on its wolf control schemes. ]

On April 10, 2006, Misty H wrote:

This add angers me. Just listen to what I have to say about it before you blow me off to skip this article. Take this point of view from someone that has been here for a long time.

I have lived in alaska my whole life. Yeah, our people kill some wolves, but that is so the people that live in the villages such as alaska natives can have enough moose meat for themselves, because it gets lower than negative 50 farenheit lots of the time in winter, and they can not go hunting for a long time in that temperature, so, they need more of a source of their moose. In order to have more moose, then they have to kill more of what is lowering the moose population. So, therefore, I dont think it is a heartless thing to do as some of you put it, I think of it as survival.

In a lot of places in Alaska, it is just fine to visit, for instance, Anchorage, Alaska, or Fairbanks, Alaska you wont be seeing any shootings of wolves, and if you do then im surprised, because I have lived here for years, and I haven’t even seen a wild wolf other than at the zoo.

[Blog editors’ note: True, there hasn’t been any wolf control in downtown Anchorage or outside the boutiques of Fairbanks, yet. Because you’re not shooting moose off your back porch doesn’t mean wolves have decimated moose. Approximately 90,000 residents in Alaska have hunting licenses. Many of these residents are killing moose. Although Fish & Game doesn’t provide a scientifically reliable count of wolves, let’s estimate liberally that there are 5,000 wolves (we’re subtracting the deaths of 2,000 or more this winter). Wolves need to hunt moose and other animals to survive; two-legged hunters don’t. Two-legged hunters vastly outnumber
wolves and bears, and they’re big time whiners, unlike the wolves and bears. ]

On April 23, 2006, salty wrote:

you’re boycott is ridiculous…why don’t you just say ‘boycott the entire united states’, there are plenty of reasons you could spin if you wanted… (secretly I hope it works though because the tourism industry up here is worse than any wolf kill program, most of the money is made by out of state companies who lay down in the summer and pack up in the winter, there isn’t as much trickle down as you’d think) Happy Boycotting!

On April 23, 2006, salty wrote:

why bob? why try, in vain, to boycott an entire state? there are many things that any one of us disagree with in this world, so go after it directly, especially in this country where we have to power to do so. Friends of Animals seems to have their act together and can certainly figure out a way to go after ther wolf-hunt program that doesn’t make them come off as looney. Their boycott will probably affect (if at all) those they don’t mean to target and won’t touch the ones responsible for the program. There are plenty of people living up here who don’t agree with it, do you think that their boycott is actually telling Alaskan’s something they don’t know? There are roughly only 500,000 people in the entire state, and when someone farts in Bethel they can tell you who did it in Ketchikan the next day. As for those Alaskans I’ve seen post here who agree with the state boycott your low self-esteem makes you a suck-up. Treasure your state, it’s not all ariel wolf-hunt programs. You don’t like it go to the source with your voice. In Alaska that is one thing we can do much better than in those over-crowded states down below - we actually have a chance at having our voices heard by those in power. And bob, as for ‘reductio ad absurdum’ I’m sorry, but I don’t speak any French.

[Blog editors’ note: At risk of repeating ourselves,there are diverse voices in Alaska, and twice in the last decade the majority have resisted aerial wolf control by voting to make it illegal at the polls — both in 1996 and 2000. Those voices were ignored by Alaska’s state lawmakers, so the opposite to what you claim is true, Salty. Principles matter. It’s Alasksa’s wolf control wingnuts who are considered loony and out-of-pace with the rest of the nation. ]

On May 13, 2006, gary c wrote:

the next round of insanity by the alaska gameboard has been posted in saturday’s anchorage daily news www.adn.com. a wonderful spring day has been turned dark.

gary c.

On June 3, 2006, Jenna wrote:

My fiance and I were planning on taking our honeymoon next year to Alaska, that is until we heard about this atrocity. We will now be happy to spend our money in the northwest

On June 5, 2006, beth wrote:

the wolf is my spirit guide. I feel very strongly on this horrible injustice to one of the most misunderstood creatures here on earth!. they are truly majestic creatures and should be treated with reverence and respect.

peace, beth

On August 10, 2006, Kristyn wrote:

I am a full Alaskan Athabascan! I have a full line of my ancestors depending on big game animals for food for their families and community. The over population of wolves is outrageous. Don’t get me wrong I like wolves they are beautiful animals. You must remember that they won’t think about saving your butts if you were standed in the middle of nowhere in Alaska. They see you as their meat and satisfaction of thier needs…FOOD….same thing my great grandfather depended on to feed his wife and large amount of children. We have potlatches for someone who passed away, almost died, baby got their first hair cut, and all this other special occasions. It is hard to make ends meet when their is a lot of wolves feeding on moose and caribou. Like I said, “You must remember that wolves won’t be thinking about saving your butts when you are in the middle of nowhere.”

On September 28, 2006, indy sarah james wrote:

I just went on my first moose camp. what a horror. after 8-10 bullets in the head and his throat cut, the moose was still alive and trying to escape. I did not use to think subsistence hunting was cruel, but I do now. I also live in Alaska and am native.

Its hard to believe the above comment- we had wolves all around us the whole time and they never paid any attention to us and never had a successfull kill, they did clean up the guts - it’s about all they got. the illegal airplane hunters in the next camp shot most of the moose and did not even take most of the meat. With over 800 cow permits given out in this area, its hard to believe wolves have even a remote hand in the true decimation of moose. I guess orphan calves will be on the menu for wolves this fall…

Indy Sarah James

On January 8, 2007, Brooke Edwards wrote:

I live in Alaska and work in the tourism industry. Our small ecotourism company donates part of our profit to local environmental organizations protecting wilderness and wildlfe. By boycotting tourism, you are hurting small businesses intent on protecting wild resources. THIS IS THE WRONG TARGET! Instead, please direct your well-educated response letters of protest to our new governor: Sarah Palin. Even all of our State Fish and Game Wildlife Biologists disagree with this practice as it is not founded on any solid biological facts or numbers. Now that Frank Murkowski is out of office, we have a chance for change…but please quit your campaign to hurt these small tour operators that depend on wild resources and interact with them respectfully. Thank you, Brooke

FoA comments:

Wolves are not “resources” — they are sentient beings. If you and your company care greatly about saving lives, and not just preserving resources, ORGANIZE. Contact everyone you can in the state of Alaska. Put pressure on the entire government. Contact your governor en masse. Report back here with her response. Thanks.

On January 26, 2007, Barry wrote:

To Alaska boycotters throughout the world.
I have one thing to say , - please stay out , we do not want or need you. We do not want or need your opinions in this matter . You have no idea of the impact wolves have on the declining moose population. Stay home and keep Alaska spandex free.

On February 4, 2007, Bridget wrote:

I love the ad and I am trying to make a similar one concerning coyotes and deer in PA. I don’t see how people could be so mean hearted as to kill an animal. I certainly won’t be visiting Alaska (not that I was anyway- it’s too cold) I wish everyone were as sensitive as some are and would try to help save the animals.

On February 6, 2007, Erin Murray wrote:

I have been looking through many of the letters that this web site’s supporters have posted, and I have to say that many of these people don’t really know what it’s like to live out in the Bush. According to “Bob”, the Natives can simply move to a different location in order to find more food to live on. What he doesn’t understand is that the Natives don’t just live there because it’s convenient, they live there because it’s part of their way of life. They are trying to keep their traditional culture alive in a world that quickly forgets cultural traditions. The moose and caribou hunt IS their food. There isn’t much in the way of plant life except for lichen (what caribou eat - not good for humans) and the occaisional berry bush.

Preserving the moose and the caribou herds is not for the “sport” hunters, as Linda Camac believes. It’s for the villagers who treat the animals they take with the utmost respect. These people not only need the animals for food, but they hold the animals as very spiritual beings, and thank the spirit of the animal for providing them with food, clothing, and other materials.

I personally would be appalled if the government decided to put this policy into action if it was simply to benefit the sport hunters. I don’t support sport hunting at all, even though my father is an avid hunter himself. This policy is SUPPOSED to benefit the villagers that hunt to survive. It would be great if there was some alternative, but apparently Fish and Game can’t see another way.

FoA comments:

Maintaining cultural traditions is not an excuse for the needless killing of animals. And as native Alaskan culture has changed considerably over the years — a cash economy, motorized vehicles, firearms — the end to the needless killing of animals would only be one more change — a positive one.

And sport hunters greatly benefit from the artificial (certainly not cultural) manipulation of the prey/predator ratio. You should be appalled.

On August 10, 2007, im only a kid my name is savannah wrote:

thats mean i don’t think they should hurt animals! thats crule and bad and VERY MEAN TO ANIMALS AND NATURE! I JUST HATE IT IF PEOPLE HURT ANIMALS I HATE IT!

On October 18, 2007, jessica wrote:

The simple fact that they have allowed all this to happen again is just proof of how stubborn they are and how much they really do not care. What ever happened to the old days where we would only kill for food and if the animal was attacking? The best thing we, as animal lovers, can do is educate and petition. The government needs to realize that by shooting and killing wolves, it is really hurting the moose/caribou population. Wolves kill the weak, sick, and old because those animals are the easiest to run down. That leaves us with the healthy so it is a fair trade when you think about it. But, as humans, what we do not understand we kill and eliminate, refusing to learn. Education….the best tool we have at the time.

On January 2, 2008, Sophia Stewart wrote:

I think this is outrageous! The slaughter of innocent animals is horrible. This may hurt Alaska’s economy. I don’t want to visit Alaska or any other state that partrays this kind of cruelness until it stops!

On January 11, 2008, STEVE wrote:

The moose and caribou are not in danger.That is propaganda in order to attempt to justify the baseless slaughter of an endangered species. One that should not have been removed.

On March 8, 2008, ryan courchene wrote:

I have lived in alaska for 24 years, True, they have lured a dog or two into the brush to feed on, but attack humands, no , not ever. these pro-killing groups talk about loose dogs (maybe mixed with a small amount of wolf) in villages that every spring become over populated because most dogs are not spayed or neutered.

the moose population is down becauser of Fish and Game.
Railroad and car traffic. SLOW DOWN THE TRAINS IN KEY AREAS,

STOP OUT OF STATE HUNTERS FOR A FEW SEASONS, STOP THE FISH AND GAME FROM KILLING 400 COW MOOSE THIS YEAR ALONE ON A OPEN SEASON FOR COWS. HOW MUCH DUMBER CAN EVERY GET.

On March 20, 2008, Anthony wrote:

i’d rather die than see all the wolves go extinct

On April 17, 2008, N wrote:

Wolf kills in the wild are usually infrequent and may take place only once every few days. Unlike us, they don’t have the luxury of choice and may pursue a single animal for days, over many miles of frozen tundra.

In this light, I find it hard to believe that wolves are responsible for elk declines as certain organizations claim. Indy makes a good point, I wonder how many of the kills blamed on wolves were actually scavenged from corpses left behind by sport “hunters”. It’s sickening but not surprising that instead of acknowledging the problem of overhunting, the state prefers to scapegoat wolves.

That said, I feel that it is really counterproductive to insult posters with differing opinions. Perhaps your organization should engage them in civil discussion instead of sarcasm, because that never achieves anything positive.

FoA comments:It debatable as to whether the occasional sarcastic comment is counter-productive or productive. FoA bases its responses on its decades of experience dealing with wolf-killers. It is difficult to have a civil discussion with those promoting or engaging in the uncivil act of killing wolves, but we do try.

On August 15, 2008, Alison wrote:

I came to this website because I wanted to learn more. But now I’m just disappointed and angry because you’re making it seem like everyone in Alaska wants to kill the wolves. And all the people that are saying they’re not going to visit here now, that’s just stupid. Alaska is a beautiful amazing state! Yes, there’s dumb rednecks who only care about the size of the bear they kill or the size of their truck but there’s also many people who actually care about the state! And want to save the wolves so yeah I’m just kind of rambling but whatever. People are stupid.

FoA comments:

It’s not our impression that all Alaskans want to kill the wolves. We know that it’s only a small minority that does. The future of Alaska and the wolves depends on the majority of Alaskans, but the majority must actively campaign against the wrong-headed, mean-spirited policies of its government.

On September 4, 2008, miami native wrote:

We in Florida want to picket any McCain or Palin visits. We were hoping for posters like above. Does anyone know how we can get them?

We don’t intend for this woman to take charge of our gov’t and considering McCain’s age it is totally possible,
without the world knowing what she is..

Can you just picture a confrontation between Putin and Palin?

On November 17, 2008, Georgia Smith wrote:

The problem with animal abuse is that 70 percent of all conservatives believe in creationism. Creationists believe that animals do not have souls nor did humans evolve from cave men…(or ape like creatures). What a shame the Church is promoting this ignorant mindset which keeps us humans separated. Divide and Conquer is a well knows tactical maneuver. Those educated people will remember that Galileo was imprisoned when he told the Church the Sun was the center of our solar system so for all you out who are creationists, please stop and rethink so we can have a better world for our children.

On April 26, 2009, sydney price wrote:

yes i think wolves are beautiful animals beacause they are and they should stay here in west yellow stone beacuse they came before us when the whites people of the west took it away from the so they should stay here . we should live them alone and let them do what eer they want.

On January 2, 2012, James Mormon wrote:

well i live in Alaska and have video tape that i tried to post to you tube of a pack of wolves chasing down 9 baby caribou killing them and running off not one was eaten i came back 5 days later and 7 of them where laying right where they where left by the wolves but to many wolf loving bleeding hearts had my video removed. see you think wolves are these beautiful magical creatures when in all actuality they are the apex predator in Alaska because of how they hunt and the fact that they only eat a small portion of there kills from the caribou herds. now on to point two please keep your wolf loving hearts out of our state we manage our wildlife just fine. we have wolves eating puppy’s out of peoples back yards where the wolves are moving into populated areas. i wish there was something else we could do with our problem animals but it is just not cost effective to do so the state allows for people to fly over and CONTROL the population of wolves. and to all of you who don’t want to come to Alaska because we kill wolves from the air you can stay out of Alaska because you are not welcome here. also i dare you to look at a REAL Alaskan wolf in action and still call them beautiful animals. being born and raised here watching what they did to those animals has changed my views of them as a predator. wolves are best when skinned and laid next to the fire place to curl up and get warm with. sorry i cant find beauty in something so vile and so evil as wolves. if i had only one wish it would be that you look at both sides of the book not just the cover. and to all of those who think that staying out of Alaska will cause a financial hardship for Alaska i would just like to remind you of our oil pipeline and the dividend we get every year. take your money and stuff it we don’t want it

FoA comments:

By your same reasoning, humans are the ugliest animals in the world — far uglier than wolves — as humans cause more misery and damage than any other animal in the world. Hard to argue with that, but here’s the difference. Humans can choose to act differently. Wolves cannot. Of course, some humans are uglier than others and you seem to fit that bill.

Even people outside of Alaska know that wolves and other predators kill animals and that it is not pretty. Seeing it on video isn’t really important.

On August 7, 2012, Pixie wrote:

Not to mention that some of these efforts are controlling wildly expanding wolf populations that are imperiling other wildlife that people that live in the bush DEPEND ON TO SURVIVE! I know that most people who live in the lower 48 seem to think hamburger magically appears in the supermarket and that it doesn’t involve killing of an animal; that all food is found on a store shelf and no one needs to hunt or do that “evil deed” themselves. I understand, also, that these people have absolutely NO CONCEPT of self-sufficiency or what it means to truly live off the land. These people also come across either ignorant of the reasons for these actions or simply ignore them because they are apathetic to them.

I have no hatred of wolves, they are beautiful and majestic creatures, no doubt. But as we live on this planet with animals and we alter their lives, we have to be mindful of what our actions do & cause. If you are so against the culling of the wolf population to protect other animals and the herds that are protected for hunting purposes (btw- we have some of the strictest laws when it comes to taking ALL of the useable meat in the nation, what about where YOU live?!), and to ensure that these other animals ALSO have a chance to survive and thrive, why is that so objectionable?! Why is it that culling their numbers to less destructive levels is so vile, yet our actions putting wolves in a position, if unchecked, to eradicate entire herds of other animals so that the literally cease to exist in those areas is somehow worthy of applause? On one hand, direct action that will not threaten the survivability of the wolf as species in this area and on the other the indirect action that could likely end with the complete destruction and eradication of other animal species… So what is the so wrong and evil about that first option, but ok about the alternative?!

Humans are apart from the standard animal kingdom that we live among, there’s no denying this. We have a greater mental capacity to create, improvise, and invent. We have both the right AND responsibility to be good stewards of the world, no doubt- but this doesn’t mean degrading ourselves to the point where we consider ourselves a cancer or blight on the world. What a sick and warped view of humankind (yourselves included, you realize) that is!