Aerial Wolf Hunting -- Sarah Palin's Shame

Aerial hunting of wolves is cruel and unethical.

Photo by Jim Brandenburg

There are about 10,000 wolves in Alaska.  The last frontier. Wolves once wandered  throughout the dark forests of North America.

Congress outlawed Aerial Hunting

In 1972 the U.S. Congress approved the "Federal Airborne Hunting Act" outlawing airborne hunting of wolves and other wildlife.    Alaska citizens agreed with the Act and voted so in ballot measures.  However, the Alaska legislature overturned their votes and found a loophole under "wildlife management".

  Wolf Pups

So what is bad about aerial hunting?

       It is Cruel

Many hunters are disgusted by aerial hunting of wolves, because it goes against

their notion of "fair chase."

The wolves often lie wounded on the ground, because aerial hunters don't kill accurately.
A year ago Governor Sarah Palin put a

$150 bounty of wolves paws to entice more hunting.

 A hunter hacks off a foreleg and brings it in for payment.

Palin is, if nothing else, consistent.

She tried to sue the US government to derail the listing of polar bears as a threatened species, fearing that it would get in the way of oil and gas development - this as the ice melts under their paws and they are literally drowning. (The Guardian, U.K.).

The irony is that because wolf populations in Alaska have never declined to the extent they have in other states, they were never added to the endangered species list. Alaska classifies wolves as both big game animals and furbearers, which means they can be hunted and trapped.  Many of the wolf kills go unreported.    

It is Unscientific

No one knows how many wolves there actually are, so aerial wildlife management of Alaskan wolves is inaccurate.

Wolves and Family Values?

Maybe Republicans could learn something about "family values" from the wolf.  Wolves mate for life.  The communal care of their young is undisputed.

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There is Hope:  "Protect America's Wildlife Act" (in Congress)

Congress is currently considering the Protect America's Wildlife Act (PAW), sponsored by Rep. George Miller of California.  This Act would close the current loophole that Alaska is utilizing.

Sarah Palin, you disgust me.

Your insensitivity and colossal cruelty hearkens back to the mass genocide of the American Buffalo. As former Mayor Ed Koch, recently said about Gov. Palin: "She scares the hell out of me!"

Citizens -- contact the US Congress and voice your support of the "Wildlife Protection Act (PAW)".  A fair chase is what is owed an animal.

When the last mournful howl of the wolf is heard, something will have died in the American soul.

Comments

[Nancy Mehegan]

Blizno --Thanks for your inspiring post. As humans evolve they will realize the "connectedness" of all creatures.

[nancy]

Sarah Palin, you've shamed the people of this country. You scare the hell out of me.
sure you're not a cave woman? no offense intended towards the cave women!

[Nancy Mehegans]

Evildirtywolfkiller, The hunting site below lists a recent death as THE FIRST OFFICIAL DEATH OF A HUMAN BY WOLVES IN NORTH AMERICA.
http://canadahuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2007/12/12/kenton-carnegie-killed-by-wolves/

So where do you get this notion of wolves as dangerous to humans???

[N. Mehegans]

There is little evidence of a wolf killing a human one-to-one. Perhaps in a pack, yes. Gee all you rugged non-liberals aren't scared of a little wolf, are ya?

[evildirtywolfkiller]

The very notion that people cant get this has me thinking America is in much more of a pickle than we choose to believe.

First point, hunting from aircraft is not considered sport. Sport is the thrill of the chase. Shooting things from the sky that clearly have no chance, is not something done for fun.

Secondly, population control of wolves, which are a predatory animal, is vital to the survival of HUMANS in that area. You do uunderstand that populations of wild animals left unchecked will grow right?? You do get that wolves would have no problem ripping a human that is in the wrong place at the wrong time to shreads right?? Its simple. I mean obviously the state would not pay $150 a kill for something just for the hell of it. There is logic there but your tiny hippy brain refuses to see it.

I'm sorry, I dont care how many liberals think I'm satan, a human life > an animal life. I think that if it came down to wolves possibly roaming an area where your children could happen to wander into, you would see the connection.

[Laura]

The very notion of hunting from a helicopter reminds me of a bully picking on someone smaller/weaker than himself. I don't think that that's ladylike. In fact, it's not very manly either. How about fairness, giving everyone--everything--a chance. Hmm, radical idea. Now that's a change.