To: Alaska Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Douglas Vincent-Lang

I am writing to urge you to reject the latest plan from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game which would authorize gunners to utilize helicopters, snowmobiles, and other equipment to eliminate up to 80% of wolves, brown bears, and black bears across a 20,000-acre area. This area borders the Denali and Lake Clark National Parks and Preserves (Unit 16).

Under this plan, state agents would be authorized to shoot hundreds of animals on sight—as many as 80% of all wolves and black bears and 60% of all brown bears—on the doorstep of two national parks.

This operation is inhumane and represents a troubling approach to wildlife management. In addition, it lacks a scientific foundation as study after study shows that predators are not the major factor determining the population of moose, caribou, and other game animals. Alaska should protect and not disrupt the healthy predator/prey balance in the wild.

A similar Alaskan predator control operation in 2023 killed approximately 100 brown bears (including cubs) and black bears, far more than the original planners estimated. This suggests that the Department cannot control the true mortality levels during these exercises.

I strongly urge you to reconsider this senseless plan and prioritize a more balanced, humane approach to wildlife management.