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A partial victory to protect Kenai National Wildlife Refuge!
A November court decision upheld a 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule which determined that the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s long-standing prohibition on brown bear baiting, along with its decades-long approach of managing the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area for wildlife viewing and education, was legal.
The decision confirms that the Fish and Wildlife Service has the authority to manage wildlife on lands it oversees and to set management priorities within Refuges.
“We believe that the Fish and Wildlife Service is obligated to protect Kenai brown bears on the refuge and this opinion recognizes the agency’s authority to do just that,” said Nicole Schmitt, executive director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. “At a time when so many of Alaska’s wildlife protections are being rolled back, this ruling comes as a sigh of relief for all those who enjoy the Refuge and its wildlife.”
In its ruling in State of Alaska v. Bernhardt (Alaska Wildlife Alliance was an intervening party), released on Friday, Nov. 13, the U.S. District Court upheld most portions of the rule, including the ban on brown bear baiting and emphasis on wildlife viewing in the Skilak area. Trustees for Alaska represented us and our allies in this suit.
“This decision means that the Kenai Refuge will continue to function as a true refuge for vulnerable Kenai brown bears and other species,” said Rachel Briggs, staff attorney with Trustees for Alaska. “The ruling further maintains the Skilak area for wildlife viewing, and confirms the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Service to manage wildlife refuges to support an array of uses and protect wildlife diversity.”
Does this ruling prevent the rule changes that were proposed by Fish and Wildlife Service earlier in 2020, which include permitting brown bear baiting and liberalizing trapping in the refuge?
Unfortunately, no. This ruling essentially protects the old, good rule but does not prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from making new rules that allow bear baiting and increased trapping. We want to thank the over 40,000 people who submitted comments and the more than 200,000 people who signed petitions against the Trump administration's efforts to rollback protections on the Kenai Wildlife Refuge this fall! The rule is currently under review. We will share news of the decision as soon as it is published, which may take months.
Click here to read the full press release
Photo: Brown bear family investigates a black bear baiting station on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
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A victory against the Pebble Mine!
On Thanksgiving eve, the US Army Corps of Engineers denied the Pebble Limited Partnership’s application for a permit to develop the Pebble Mine. While this is great news for wildlife, we’re not out of the woods yet. The decision can be reversed and the Pebble Limited Partnership’s CEO has indicated they plan to appeal the Corps of Engineers’ decision.
To ensure this potentially disastrous project is stopped for good, we need you to be a voice for wildlife by contacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to urge them to use their “Veto Authority” under the Clean Water Act’s section 404(c). Click here to take action and stop the Pebble Mine project once and for all.
Brown Bear | National Parks Service
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Taking Alexander Archipelago wolf protections to court
On October 26th, Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Juneau resident Joel Bennett, represented by Joseph W. Geldhof, filed a lawsuit against the Commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and the State of Alaska. We sought to prevent an unsustainable trapping season on Alexander Archipelago wolves on Prince of Wales Island, southeast Alaska.
After hearing testimony and considering our expert witness affidavit, the judge ruled that we could not prove irrevocable harm, and thus dismissed our request for injunctive relief. The 21-day wolf trapping season, with no limit on the number of wolves trappers can take, ended on December 5th.
This Constitutional case against the State of Alaska continues. The state has until December 6, 2020 to answer our basic Complaint. A full trial on the issues is likely in 2021.
Click here to read our full summary of the case, including excerpts from our witness affidavit.
Alexander Archipelago wolf | Alaska Department of Fish and Game
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Map the Trap
We recently launched a new citizen science project, Alaska Map the Trap. There is no central database tracking trap encounters in Alaska, including data on dogs caught in traps. We seek to understand the scope of the problem and collect data on what the public would like regarding trap setbacks. If you see a trap while recreating, fill out our quick survey to help us map the trap!
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Our joint letter in response to Arctic lease sales
On Monday, a coalition of organizations represented by Trustees for Alaska submitted a letter to Secretary Bernhardt conveying our outrage regarding the recently published public notice for the Coastal Plain Alaska Oil and Gas Lease Sale, 85 Fed. Reg. 78,865 (Dec. 7, 2020).
Click here to read our joint letter
Photo of polar bear in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by Matthew Studebaker
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Meet our newest Board member, Estelle Tomson!
Estelle Thomson is a Yup’ik traditional medicine practitioner, educator, serves on her village's Traditional Council, and most importantly a mom to three wonderful, smart, funny and ridiculously good looking children. She is originally from the Southwestern Bering Sea Coast community of Hooper Bay, but has lived in many communities over her lifetime. She now resides in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley on a lake with a boisterous and noisy loon family.
Estelle is the Tribal Court Program Director for the Native Village of Paimiut, creating a traditional restorative justice model using principles and traditional activities from her culture for her tribal members in three different rural communities. Recently she was published in the First Alaskans Magazine on an article entitled “Preserving Traditional Lifeways” and for her work in traditional medicine. She also serves as a consultant for the Association of Village Council President’s Tribal Court Master Series working with other tribes to set up their Tribal Courts and is a trainer for History and Hope, a program of the Alaska Resilience Initiative.
Welcome, Estelle!
Click here to learn more about our staff and Board of Directors.
Photo by/of Estelle Tomson
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AWA Vice President wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Huge congratulations to AWA's Board Vice President, John Morton, for this lifetime achievement award in invasive species management from the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership!
Dr. John Morton retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 32 years as a wildlife biologist. He has extensive experience studying and managing invasive species including the effects of brown tree snake introduction to Guam, nutria eradication from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and elodea eradication from the Kenai Peninsula. In more recent years, John has been involved in climate change adaptation and is leading AWA's development of our new climate program. Join us in congratulating him!
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Our November Hometown Hero
Our Kenai Coordinator, Teresa Becher, saved a lost puppy over the Thanksgiving holiday. Click here to read more about this feel-good reunion...2020 needs more heartwarming stories.
Photo by/of Teresa Becher
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Calling all federal employees!
If you are a federal employee or military member (or a retiree) interested in supporting organizations like ours, please consider registering with the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The CFC helps make donating ethical and easy. Just register, select AWA as your organization, and the CFC will pull your donation from your paycheck through a regular allotment or a one-time payment!
For more information about the CFC and how to donate, check out the links below. Please use AWA's code (41325) if you choose to register.
CFC info:
https://www.opm.gov/combined-federal-campaign/
Donor Pledging Portal:
https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome
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Visit our Alaska Wildlife Alliance swag store!
All profits from these sales support our education and advocacy programs - click the image below to check our inventory!
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2021 Calendars are available!
Our 2020 Alaska wildlife photo contest was the biggest one yet! Here’s a sneak peek at the cover of our 2021 calendar. Although they’ve been a bit delayed at the printers, we can guarantee they are awesome and highlight some of Alaska’s amazing wildlife. You can place your order on our website. They are selling for only $12 and all proceeds go directly into funding our wildlife advocacy and educational programs. Note** if you have donated $100 or more this year you'll receive a complimentary calendar in the mail as soon as they're printed!
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December 9th, 6pm online: Kenai Peninsula College showcase presentation Climate Effects on Moose, Caribou and Sitka Black-tailed Deer on the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound with Dr. John Morton, Vice President of Alaska Wildlife Alliance
December 12th & 13th, Anchorage: Volunteers needed for holiday gift wrapping event at 49th State Holiday Market. Click here to learn how you can use your gift wrapping skills to support wildlife!
December 16th, 7pm-8pm online: Wildlife Wednesday: Alaska Sealife Center 2020 Wildlife Response Season with Halley Werner and Savannah Costner.
PAST EVENTS
If you missed our past Wildlife Wednesdays, have no fear! You can watch recordings of our previous talks on our website, including:
Is it a whale? Is it a seal? No! It's a Harbor Porpoise with Dr. Deb Tobin
Trapping regulations on the Kenai Peninsula with Nicole Schmitt and John Morton
Hormones and Whales: What tiny molecules can tell us about the giants of the sea with Valentina Melica
Training on how to use your voice for wildlife with Nicole Schmitt, Andy Moderow, and Rachel Briggs
And more!
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Check out these new ways to give to Alaska Wildlife Alliance!
All of our work, from advocacy to education, is member-supported. If you believe that this work is important, please consider supporting us by becoming a member.
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