Post by Woody Williams on Mar 1, 2006 16:05:43 GMT -5
North American Bear Foundation's intent is to foster Alaska's bears
By Tony Carroll
The Juneau Empire
Anchorage Daily News
Published: February 19, 2006
JUNEAU -- Alaska's bears are a powerful lot in the wild, but they're
politically and ecologically vulnerable, the North American Bear
Foundation says.
In an effort to conserve the environment that feeds them and to insulate
them from political whims, the group has come to Alaska.
"The governor shouldn't be making decisions on bears," said Carl Rosier,
president of the group's new Alaska chapter and a former Alaska Fish and
Game commissioner. He referred to Alaska's predator-control program.
Rosier, who served as commissioner from 1991 to 1995 under Gov. Walter
Hickel, said he doesn't want to see hunting regulations relaxed because
of political pressure, just as he doesn't want animal-rights groups and
others opposed to hunting getting involved in game management.
Professionals at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game do a good job of
managing the state's bear population, he said.
Greg Petrich, director of the Alaska chapter, said he and the group will
work to keep it that way. He has more than 15 years of experience in
Alaska habitat conservation issues, has worked as a fish and wildlife
officer for the Alaska State Troopers and has worked as a guide for
several operations in Southeast Alaska.
"Alaska's bears represent the true power and essence of our nation's
wildlands," he said. "They're a symbol of the wilderness."
The foundation is primarily about conservation, he said. He is
interested in promoting habitat -- including clean water and fisheries.
The Alaska chapter will place a strong emphasis on the health and
continued abundance of the state's fisheries. Strong in-stream fish
returns are the engines that fuel the bear population, as well as
providing recreation for sportsmen and business opportunities, he said.
"Conservation absolutely goes first," Petrich said. "What's good for the
fish is good for the bear -- and the average Alaskan's livelihood."
The foundation, a nonprofit organization, was incorporated in 1998 in
Fort Ripley, Minn., dedicated to safeguarding native bears and other
wildlife populations of the continent by promoting public awareness,
education and sound management of natural resources, according to its
mission statement.
The Alaska chapter, just getting started in Juneau, plans to continue
the tradition and engage in a broad range of activities important to
people who value the outdoors, Petrich said.
"More fish in the creek, more power to the bear," Petrich said, quoting
the chapter's motto.
Bears are Alaska's largest land predator. Black bears and brown bears
thrive in Southeast Alaska. Black bears outnumber the larger brown bears
statewide, but according to Department of Fish and Game estimates, brown
bears outnumber people living on Admiralty Island near Juneau by about
3-to-1.
With as many as 45,000 brown bears, Alaska has more than 98 percent of
the brown or grizzly bears remaining in the United States, Petrich said.
Alaska has more than 70 percent of the brown bears remaining in North
America.
Rosier said he has seen politics override scientific research in wolf
management. When he was fish and game commissioner, the issue of wolf
hunting prompted about 100,000 letters from across the country.
"There were people who thought wolves shouldn't be harvested," he said.
"They have been glamorized by animal-rights people." As a symbol, he
added, "they've been a huge money-maker for animal rights."
Bears never reached that point, and Rosier would like to see that they
don't, he said. Bears have created controversies in population centers
such as Juneau, where some of the large animals raid people's garbage.
But newer garbage-handling rules in the city have reduced the problem.
"It wasn't the bear's fault," Rosier said.
By Tony Carroll
The Juneau Empire
Anchorage Daily News
Published: February 19, 2006
JUNEAU -- Alaska's bears are a powerful lot in the wild, but they're
politically and ecologically vulnerable, the North American Bear
Foundation says.
In an effort to conserve the environment that feeds them and to insulate
them from political whims, the group has come to Alaska.
"The governor shouldn't be making decisions on bears," said Carl Rosier,
president of the group's new Alaska chapter and a former Alaska Fish and
Game commissioner. He referred to Alaska's predator-control program.
Rosier, who served as commissioner from 1991 to 1995 under Gov. Walter
Hickel, said he doesn't want to see hunting regulations relaxed because
of political pressure, just as he doesn't want animal-rights groups and
others opposed to hunting getting involved in game management.
Professionals at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game do a good job of
managing the state's bear population, he said.
Greg Petrich, director of the Alaska chapter, said he and the group will
work to keep it that way. He has more than 15 years of experience in
Alaska habitat conservation issues, has worked as a fish and wildlife
officer for the Alaska State Troopers and has worked as a guide for
several operations in Southeast Alaska.
"Alaska's bears represent the true power and essence of our nation's
wildlands," he said. "They're a symbol of the wilderness."
The foundation is primarily about conservation, he said. He is
interested in promoting habitat -- including clean water and fisheries.
The Alaska chapter will place a strong emphasis on the health and
continued abundance of the state's fisheries. Strong in-stream fish
returns are the engines that fuel the bear population, as well as
providing recreation for sportsmen and business opportunities, he said.
"Conservation absolutely goes first," Petrich said. "What's good for the
fish is good for the bear -- and the average Alaskan's livelihood."
The foundation, a nonprofit organization, was incorporated in 1998 in
Fort Ripley, Minn., dedicated to safeguarding native bears and other
wildlife populations of the continent by promoting public awareness,
education and sound management of natural resources, according to its
mission statement.
The Alaska chapter, just getting started in Juneau, plans to continue
the tradition and engage in a broad range of activities important to
people who value the outdoors, Petrich said.
"More fish in the creek, more power to the bear," Petrich said, quoting
the chapter's motto.
Bears are Alaska's largest land predator. Black bears and brown bears
thrive in Southeast Alaska. Black bears outnumber the larger brown bears
statewide, but according to Department of Fish and Game estimates, brown
bears outnumber people living on Admiralty Island near Juneau by about
3-to-1.
With as many as 45,000 brown bears, Alaska has more than 98 percent of
the brown or grizzly bears remaining in the United States, Petrich said.
Alaska has more than 70 percent of the brown bears remaining in North
America.
Rosier said he has seen politics override scientific research in wolf
management. When he was fish and game commissioner, the issue of wolf
hunting prompted about 100,000 letters from across the country.
"There were people who thought wolves shouldn't be harvested," he said.
"They have been glamorized by animal-rights people." As a symbol, he
added, "they've been a huge money-maker for animal rights."
Bears never reached that point, and Rosier would like to see that they
don't, he said. Bears have created controversies in population centers
such as Juneau, where some of the large animals raid people's garbage.
But newer garbage-handling rules in the city have reduced the problem.
"It wasn't the bear's fault," Rosier said.