"Pro-Life" Sarah Palin = Wolf Killing for Money (Cheney would applaud)

[G_j]

http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2007/03_27_2007_judge_asked_to_shut_down_wolf_bounty_program.php

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2007
Contact(s) Tom Banks, [phone] ext 1

Defenders of Wildlife Asks Judge to Shut Down Palin's Wolf Bounty Program

Bounty Law Repealed in 1984 – Alaska Does Not Have Regulatory Authority to Impose New Incentives

Anchorage, AK -- Today Defenders of Wildlife, the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and the Alaska Chapter of the Sierra Club asked the Alaska Superior Court to shut down Governor Palin's $150-per-wolf bounty program citing the fact that Alaska's bounty laws were repealed in 1984 and the State has no current legal authority to implement the bounties.

"The Governor is overstepping her legal authority by offering cash payments for each wolf killed by aerial gunners," stated Tom Banks, Defenders of Wildlife's Alaska Associate. "That's a bounty by anyone's standards regardless of what they call it."

Hoping to boost the number of wolves killed this year by permitees, Palin announced the state would pay $150 for each kill. According to an Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) news release, the bounty was instituted to "motivate permittees to redouble their efforts and to help offset the high cost of aviation fuel, ADF&G will offer cash payments to those who return biological specimens to the department." The state's press release, issued last Wednesday, indicates that "Permittees will be paid $150 when they bring in the left forelegs of wolves taken from any of several designated control areas."

"Governor Palin needs to take a close look at wildlife management practice in her state and restore the use of sound science," concludes Banks. "She said would heed the will of the public, but it's increasingly clear she's only listening to that segment that is willing to sacrifice Alaska's natural heritage for the benefit of a few."

The judge is expected to make a decision fairly quickly.

Defenders and the co-plaintiffs expressed an additional concern that the bounty offered by the State will encourage the illegal killing of wolves outside the control area.

Defenders of Wildlife is represented by Mike Frank of Trustees for Alaska, a public interest law firm, and Valerie Brown, an Anchorage attorney in private practice.

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http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2007/03_21_2007_defenders_condemns_gov._palins_decision_offering_bounties_for_wolves.php

For Immediate Release
March 21, 2007
Contact(s) Karla Dutton, [phone]
Defenders Condemns Gov. Palin's Decision Offering Bounties for Wolves

Statement of Karla Dutton, Defenders of Wildlife's Alaska office director

Anchorage, AK -- "We are extremely outraged at Governor Palin's decision to reinstate a wolf bounty to entice hunters to kill more wolves in the five control areas as reported in today's Anchorage Daily News. Even worse, we know she is seriously considering allowing wolf killing from helicopters. Bounties have no place in modern wildlife management and undoubtedly would lead to the illegal killing of wolves.

"Defenders continues to believe that the State does not have a sufficient scientific basis for implementing these programs. Specifically, we believe that the State overestimated the number of wolves in the control areas and that is the reason that fewer wolves have been taken by aerial gunners this year. More than 600 wolves have been killed by aerial gunners in these areas over the past four years. That figure does not include the number taken through ground-based hunting and trapping. These areas may be tapped out, which would mean that the State has killed a larger proportion of the wolf population than allowed for in the plans.

"Instead of wasting taxpayer money on bounties and helicopters, the State should use funds to conduct surveys to obtain an accurate and scientifically-based assessment of each control area's wolf populations. Until the State's biologists have an updated count of these populations, aerial gunning and all the extra incentives the governor is offering should stop."

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Defenders of Wildlife is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 500,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.

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