Thursday, May 31, 2018

Stop Unethical Hunting Practices in Alaska - PETITIONS & PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE JULY 23



Ryan Zinke wants to allow extreme hunting methods in Alaska including hunting and trapping of bears, wolves, and other animals, baiting bears with bacon and donuts, wolf pups in their dens, and blinding hibernating bear cubs with bright spotlights and shooting swimming caribou from motor boats. Please leave a public comment and sign and share all of the petitions. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Submit your personalized public comment HERE before July 23. 

TALKING POINTS (taken from Humane Society of the United States and Project Coyote):

  • I oppose the National Park Service's plan to repeal the 2015 rule which bans the killing of wolf and coyote families in their dens, the killing of hibernate bears and cubs in their dens while using artificial light, baiting of black and grizzly bears, shooting swimming caribou from motor boats and using dogs to hunt black bears. 
  • The practices outlawed by the 2015 rule are widely considered to be unethical and inhumane. They are also inconsistent with the Service's statutory conservation mandate. Consequently, the Service must not repeal this law. 
  • Native carnivores play a critical role in our ecosystem. They should be treated humanely and the important role that these animals play in balancing a healthy ecosystem should be acknowledged. 
  • The original rule was carefully deliberated and was based on the best available science. It was written after extensive public input. It should not be reversed.
  • The rule only prohibits practices in national preserves which is less than 6% of Alaska. This is not an unreasonable limitation on Alaskans access to hunting.
  • Baiting of bears is a dangerous practice. It can sicken bears, exposing them and other wildlife to human foods that can be deadly to them. This can also increase the likelihood of parasite transmission of other disease. It is not uncommon for adult or larger bears to prey on cubs or smaller bears at bait sites. Moreover, hunters usually stock bait sites for a month or longer prior to the commencement of hunting season to ensure that bears get used to coming. This eliminates any notion of "fair chase" hunting. Finally, baiting can be dangerous to other humans if hikers or unaware hunters accidentally come across a bait site as brown bears are known to aggressively protect a food source. 
  • For the foregoing reasons, please keep these prohibitions in place. 

PETITIONS:
** UPDATED JULY 21

Sierra Club



3 comments:

  1. The practices outlawed by the 2015 rule are widely considered to be unethical and inhumane. They are also inconsistent with the Service's statutory conservation mandate. Consequently, the Service must not repeal this law.
    Native carnivores play a critical role in our ecosystem. They should be treated humanely and the important role that these animals play in balancing a healthy ecosystem should be acknowledged.
    The original rule was carefully deliberated and was based on the best available science. It was written after extensive public input. It should not be reversed.
    The rule only prohibits practices in national preserves which is less than 6% of Alaska. This is not an unreasonable limitation on Alaskans access to hunting.
    Baiting of bears is a dangerous practice. It can sicken bears, exposing them and other wildlife to human foods that can be deadly to them. This can also increase the likelihood of parasite transmission of other disease. It is not uncommon for adult or larger bears to prey on cubs or smaller bears at bait sites. Moreover, hunters usually stock bait sites for a month or longer prior to the commencement of hunting season to ensure that bears get used to coming. This eliminates any notion of "fair chase" hunting. Finally, baiting can be dangerous to other humans if hikers or unaware hunters accidentally come across a bait site as brown bears are known to aggressively protect a food source.
    For the foregoing reasons, please keep these prohibitions in place

    ReplyDelete

  2. I oppose the National Park Service's plan to repeal the 2015 rule which bans the killing of wolf and coyote families in their dens, the killing of hibernate bears and cubs in their dens while using artificial light, baiting of black and grizzly bears, shooting swimming caribou from motor boats and using dogs to hunt black bears.
    The practices outlawed by the 2015 rule are widely considered to be unethical and inhumane. They are also inconsistent with the Service's statutory conservation mandate. Consequently, the Service must not repeal this law.
    Native carnivores play a critical role in our ecosystem. They should be treated humanely and the important role that these animals play in balancing a healthy ecosystem should be acknowledged.
    The original rule was carefully deliberated and was based on the best available science. It was written after extensive public input. It should not be reversed.
    The rule only prohibits practices in national preserves which is less than 6% of Alaska. This is not an unreasonable limitation on Alaskans access to hunting.
    Baiting of bears is a dangerous practice. It can sicken bears, exposing them and other wildlife to human foods that can be deadly to them. This can also increase the likelihood of parasite transmission of other disease. It is not uncommon for adult or larger bears to prey on cubs or smaller bears at bait sites. Moreover, hunters usually stock bait sites for a month or longer prior to the commencement of hunting season to ensure that bears get used to coming. This eliminates any notion of "fair chase" hunting. Finally, baiting can be dangerous to other humans if hikers or unaware hunters accidentally come across a bait site as brown bears are known to aggressively protect a food source.
    For the foregoing reasons, please keep these prohibitions in place.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I oppose the National Parks Service plan to repeal the 2015 rules. The original rule was carefully deliberated and was based on the best available science. It was written after extensive public input. It should NOT be reversed. Please keep these prohibitions in place protecting our wildlife. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete