Folks like to bash Sarah Palin because she is well-known and an easy target, but predator control was going on in Alaska way before Sarah became governor (HCN, 2/21/11).
As the chairman of the Alaska Board of Game, I would like people to realize that predator control in Alaska is driven by state statutes that require action by the Board of Game when certain parameters are reached; that Department of Fish and Game staff develop a plan in each case based on the best science available and with well-defined goals; and that only a small portion of Alaska’s land mass is undergoing predator control.
The main purpose of predator reduction is to assure a sustainable harvest to provide food for Alaskans that depend on these animals. While there are a lot of emotional issues involved, we do try to sort them out and base our actions on facts and science.
Cliff Judkins
Wasilla, Alaska
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Scapegoating Sarah.
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