BoG - Citizens Need to Act to Base State Predator Control More on Science
- The Cora and Corey Show
- Surprise! Good News from the Alaska Board of Game!
- Alaska Politicians, Lawyers Fight Rages on Against Federal Authority
- Alaska's Q&A with Legislative Candidates
- Feds Right to Study Unimak Herd
- Unimak Island’s Caribou: A Crisis Created by Fish and Game?
- Thanks to the legislature, the Park Service and Rudy
- Here's the facts about predator control policies
- My turn: Speak out against wildlife management policies
- Al Barette, Alaska Board Of Game Nominee, Skins Wolf, Cites Bible (VIDEO)
- My turn: Predator 'control' is out of control
- Wildlife biologists feeling trapped by Rossi can speak up
- Board is dangerously out of touch
- Rossi to head wildlife division
- Game Board should listen to 500 residents, not 3 trappers
- State hypocritical in allowing Denali wildlife to be killed
- Alaska Board of Game candidate Mr. Al Barrette should NOT be confirmed by the Legislature.
- Alaska Legislature Plans $1.5 Million Astroturf Fight Against Endangered Species Act
- Alaska's War on Science Needs to End
- Predator Control
- Resource Development, Wildlife: We Need Them Both
- Alaska's Wild Game is Farmed for Benefit of Outside Hunters
- Wildlife resources managed for pleasure, profit of a few
- State's Wildlife Management Relies Too Much on Dead Animals
| Wildlife biologists feeling trapped by Rossi can speak up |
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By JOEL BENNETT | March 31st, 2010 "If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as improbable fiction." In a recent development that could almost be Shakespearean in plot line, Alaska's Wildlife Division biologists have found themselves between a rock and a hard place: If they speak out they will likely either be fired or find themselves transferred to a post in the Aleutian Islands. If they don't, a more internal personal purgatory may wreak havoc with them on down the line. More than 40 biologists and supervisors who formerly worked for the Division of Wildlife Conservation have sent a strong letter to Commissioner Denby Lloyd opposing his appointment of Corey Rossi as director of the division. This was based on their assessment of his woeful lack of experience and scientific credentials for the job. After more than a week, not one biologist within the division has spoken out. Is this because a classic gag order was imposed -- or are they just speechless? Rossi's clear agenda is to amp up the killing of Alaska's bears and wolves under expanding predator control programs. This is the mission he is carrying forward for an extremist Utah-based hunting group (Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife) that he is a part of. Now with its new chapter in Alaska, this group has its man in place -- someone who can do the job without sound science getting in the way. The 40-plus biologists and supervisors who signed the letter opposing Rossi's appointment represent more than 800 years of experience and scientific training within Alaska, making the silence of the division's current personnel even more deafening. The division's current biologists and supervisors could now act in solidarity to object to Rossi's appointment. With numbers, no one's job would be at risk. Rossi would almost certainly be replaced by a person with the proper credentials and experience who would get the critical staff support and trust he needs. If this does not happen quickly, legislative oversight is the only check and balance the public can hope for. A special legislative committee inquiry would shed enough light on this to expose the appointment for what it is. Our state's wildlife is a treasured resource owned in common by all Alaskans. Should we expect any less than fair and balanced management of it on our behalf? Joel Bennett is a former member of the Alaska Board of Game. He lives in Juneau. |
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