Voices for Alaska’s Wildlife
Speaking Up for the Well-being of Alaska’s wildlife
Alaska’s wildlife doesn’t have a voice in the decision-making processes that directly affect them. We engage with the public to rally a collective voice for wildlife, bringing the interests of species to the management table. AWA can also be your voice for promoting an ethical, ecosystem approach to wildlife management, ensuring that wildlife populations are sustainably managed for future generations to enjoy. Together, it is our responsibility to be the voices for wildlife and influence favorable decisions.
Take a look at some of our recent Voices for Wildlife work:
Out-of-cycle proposals on predator control, archery hunt technology, and the Ambler Road were taken up at the meeting, as well as an ADFG update on the Mulchatna caribou herd.
Documenting Alaska’s first aerial bear control program - “That day, I was not proud to be an Alaskan.”
For the past several months, Alaska Wildlife Alliance has been advocating for science-based, ethical wildlife management at the Board of Game meetings. Read on to learn about our biggest wins for wildlife in the 2026 Board of Game season!
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is proposing permitting wheel plane landings at McNeil River Sanctuary to change visitor access, prioritizing questionably safe air taxi scheduling over the protections for bears the Department is obligated to uphold. Learn how you can speak up for McNeil’s bears.
The Board of Game proposals for the Southeast region have been released and AWA is carefully combing through them so that we can best represent the needs of Alaska’s wildlife at the Wrangell Board of Game meeting at the end of January.
The State has been ordered to pay over $500,000 in legal fees following AWA’s win of the 2024 Mulchatna bear control lawsuit.
Alaska’s Representative Nick Begich recently introduced a proposal to gut the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Alaskans and many others oppose the bill - read on to learn how you can make your voice heard.
On October 14th, Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin affirmed her finding that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game acted in bad faith when they shot 11 bears from the air this spring.
On Monday, despite widespread Alaskan, Tribal, and national opposition to the proposed 211-mile mining road through Gates of the Arctic National Preserve and across the southern Brooks Range, the President ordered approval of a proposed Ambler Road in Northwest Alaska.
Despite over 60,000 public comments in opposition, the Board unanimously voted to reinstate ADF&G’s bear control program, granting ADFG the authority to gun any bears, anytime, of any sex and age within the 40,000 square mile area.
On June 6, the State released a public notice that the Board of Game has proposed to adopt regulation changes to the 2011 Mulchatna wolf predator control program that would allow ADFG to also aerially gun black and brown bears.
On the evening of May 7, Judge Rankin issued her order on the legal action that AWA filed against the State for adopting a so-called emergency regulation to reopen Mulchatna bear control for May 2025.
On April 10, Alaska Wildlife Alliance filed legal action, including a preliminary injunction, against the State for their adoption of an emergency regulation to reopen the unlawful Mulchatna bear control program.
Alaska Wildlife Alliance attended the Statewide Board of Game Meeting as a voice for Alaska’s wildlife, giving testimony, mobilizing public comment on proposals, and watching deliberations. Overall, AWA submitted comments on 16 proposals. Read on for the results.
This morning at the Board of Game meeting, the ADFG requested an emergency regulation to reinstate Mulchatna bear control, which was recently found to violate due process and the sustained yield principle.
Today is a historic day for Alaska’s bears! Judge Guidi of the Superior Court of Alaska ruled in favor of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, finding that the Mulchatna Bear Control program—in which the State has aerially gunned nearly 200 brown bears —was unlawfully adopted.
Between January 10 and 17, 2025, the Central and Southwest Board of Game Meeting will be held in Wasilla at the Best Western on Lake Lucille. While the main public comment period for proposals has already passed, there is a public comment period in the first few days of the meeting, where oral testimonies and written comments may be given.
The Board of Game Proposals for the Statewide Meeting have been released and AWA is carefully combing through them so that we can best represent the needs of Alaska’s wildlife at the Statewide BOG meeting in March. The public comment period is open until March 7, and we could use your voice to help safeguard Alaskan wildlife.
Alaska Wildlife Alliance attended the Central and Southwest Board of Game Meeting as a voice for Alaska’s wildlife, giving testimony, mobilizing public comment on proposals, and watching deliberations. Overall, AWA submitted comments on 37 proposals. The Board of Game voted with us on 22 of those proposals, for a 59% success rate, and voted against us on 15 proposals, for a 41% failure rate.
In a huge win for Alaska Wildlife Alliance, winter recreationists, and their dogs, a trapping setback proposal was passed for the Mat-Su at the most recent Board of Game (BOG) meeting.
Between January 10 and 17, 2025, the Central and Southwest Board of Game Meeting will be held in Wasilla at the Best Western on Lake Lucille. While the main public comment period for proposals has already passed, there is a public comment period in the first few days of the meeting, where oral testimonies and written comments may be given.
This January, the Alaska Board of Game (BOG) will deliberate on nearly 200 proposals impacting wildlife, including Proposal 75, which was submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG). ADFG has proposed sweeping aerial gunning on wolves and bears on the west side of Cook Inlet, between Denali National Park and Lake Clark National Park.
The Board of Game Proposals for the Central and Southwest Region have been released and AWA is carefully combing through them so that we can best represent the needs of Alaska’s wildlife at the Wasilla BOG meeting in January. The public comment period is open until December 27, and we could use your voice to help safeguard Alaskan wildlife.
Wolves can’t hold a pen, bears can’t submit an op-ed, and birds can’t publish books or essays. When Alaska’s wildlife need to share their stories, Bill Sherwonit is there.
Our Goals
Through the Voices for Wildlife program, we advocate for Alaska’s wildlife in public decision-making and promote ethical, science-based wildlife management. Some of our goals include:
Ensure sustainble regulations
We attend Board of Game and Board of Fish meetings each year to advocate for science-based ethical management of Alaska’s wildlife.
Keep people accountable for promises made to wildlife
We take legal action to protect Alaska’s wildlife, defend critical habitat, and ensure public agencies follow the law.
TelL Wildlife stories
We fund filmmaking and storytelling efforts to help tell the stories of Alaska’s wildlife and connect advocates more deeply to them.
Conduct Research and Produce publications
We believe in science-backed conservation, and members of our organization have co-authored articles on everything from invasive plant species to migratory birds to the genetics of spruce trees.
