Alaska Wolves Background

Alaska is home to the largest remaining population of gray wolves in the United States. Some 7,000 to 11,000 wolves roam the state in habitats as diverse as barren arctic tundra and lush temperate rainforests.

Alaska's wolves, as elsewhere, play an essential role in maintaining healthy prey populations and biodiversity in ecosystems in which they inhabit. They are also vital to the state's tourism economy: People from all over the world come to Alaska for the opportunity to see a wild wolf.

But ironically, at the same time that heroic efforts proceed to restore wolves to portions of their former habitat in the lower 48 states, wolves in Alaska continue to be persecuted.

Status

Because wolf populations in Alaska have never declined to the extent they have in other states, they were never added to the endangered species list. Alaska classifies wolves as both big game animals and furbearers, which means they can be hunted and trapped. Each year, more than 1,000 wolves are trapped or hunted. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, "Most of these harvest totals do not include unreported harvests which may equal or exceed the reported harvest...."

Alaska's Intensive Wolf Management Program

Ignoring the findings of numerous scientific studies that have determined that predators rarely are the sole cause of significant or long-term declines in prey populations, the Alaska legislature, the Board of Game and wolf control supporters continue to advocate for intensive management of not only wolves but brown and black bears. Hunting and trapping methods and seasons for these species have been greatly liberalized across much of the state. And since the winter of 2003/2004, the state has conducted an extensive aerial predator control program employing the use of private hunters and pilots to shoot and kill wolves using airplanes who either shoot the animals directly from the plane or chase the wolves and then landing and shoot them. Both practices are strongly opposed by many because they are considered unsportsmanlike, unethical and nearly impossible to regulate. It also leads to many other violations of hunting regulations such as chasing, herding and harassing wolves.