Alaska Judge Halts Controversial Predator Control Program

An Alaska judge has ordered the state to stop its contentious predator control program, which resumed over the weekend for a third season. In just three days, state employees had killed 11 brown bears before the court issued an injunction on Monday. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has stated it will comply with the order while exploring its legal options to reauthorize the program through the state Board of Game.

Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang expressed confidence in restoring the program to boost the Mulchatna caribou herd, which is currently below the necessary population for subsistence hunting. Previous seasons have seen the killing of 180 bears, primarily brown bears and their young, under the state’s assertion that such predation keeps caribou numbers depressed.

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin stated the state acted in “bad faith” when proceeding with the bear culls despite an earlier ruling deeming the program unlawful. This decision is seen as a victory for environmental groups who claim the program lacks scientific support and violates public process. Nicole Schmitt, Executive Director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, highlighted concerns about the state’s actions, accusing it of effectively “poaching hundreds of bears.”

Rankin’s ruling invalidates the emergency order enabling bear shooting until proper legal authority is obtained. Despite the halt, Vincent-Lang expressed disappointment, stating the injunction jeopardizes efforts to restore the caribou herd. Opponents remain skeptical, insisting that the state has not proven that bear removal improves caribou populations. Schmitt affirmed that the Alaska Wildlife Alliance will monitor the state’s adherence to court orders going forward.