Trump Administration Proposes Extreme Predator Control in Alaska National Preserves

The Trump administration has proposed new regulations that roll back protections preventing extreme methods of killing predators and other wildlife in Alaska national preserves. National preserves are managed by the National Park Service (NPS) like national parks, except hunting and fishing are allowed. NPS’ proposed regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska would essentially hand over management of predators, caribou and other wildlife on national preserves in Alaska to the state.

Alaska’s express goal for managing wildlife is to artificially increase game populations by driving down carnivore numbers. Its policy would allow hunters to bait, trap and snare bears, and kill black bears and cubs and wolves and pups in their dens. The proposed regulation would also remove the current prohibition against killing defenseless caribou from boats or shore as they swim across rivers in national preserves.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, former president and CEO at Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:

“The Trump administration has somehow reached a new low in protecting wildlife. Allowing the killing of bear cubs and wolf pups in their dens is barbaric and inhumane. The proposed regulations cast aside the very purpose of national parks to protect wildlife and wild places. The National Park Service should not accept Alaska’s extreme predator control program as a suitable method of managing wildlife and their habitat.”