ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A state predator control program that has led to the deaths of 180 bears in Southwest Alaska remains in effect after a Superior Court judge denied a request to suspend it. Judge Christina Rankin issued her ruling Wednesday, criticizing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for what she viewed as circumnavigating previous court decisions declaring the program unlawful.
Despite her criticism, Rankin refrained from halting the initiative entirely, which aims to help recover the struggling Mulchatna caribou herd. The court’s decision leaves open the possibility for state wildlife officials to resume aerial shooting of bears, a method they have employed to bolster caribou populations, particularly during calving season.
The judge’s ruling followed an injunction request filed by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, an environmental group protesting the program. The Alliance called for an immediate suspension of the predator control efforts scheduled to resume this spring. This plea emerged after the Alaska Board of Game authorized an emergency order to keep the program active, despite an earlier judicial ruling that questioned its constitutionality.
In her decision, Rankin highlighted that the Alaska Supreme Court had established that judicial intervention through injunctions is not appropriate for managing wildlife resources. However, the Alaska Wildlife Alliance pointed out that the ruling validated earlier concerns over the program’s legality, suggesting that any continuation of bear culling could be deemed contempt of court.
The Alaska Wildlife Alliance has indicated that its future legal actions will hinge on how state authorities proceed with the program. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game stated that they were still evaluating the implications of the judge’s ruling and refrained from making immediate comments.
Rankin’s recent ruling was primarily focused on procedural matters rather than the substantive issues surrounding the predator control program itself. Under changes made in 2023, the Fish and Game Department expanded its initiative to target all bears on calving grounds in a bid to diminish preying on juvenile caribou.
Historically, the Board of Game permitted predator control for wolves in the area. In 2022, it broadened this scope to include bears in an effort to assimilate and address declining caribou numbers. The Mulchatna caribou herd, once estimated at over 200,000 in 1997, has faced severe population challenges, currently estimated at around 15,000, which falls short of the sustainable thresholds needed for subsistence hunting.
While acknowledging additional ecological pressures such as disease and habitat changes, Fish and Game officials assert that reducing predator populations is an effective measure within their control to enhance caribou calf survival rates.
The state has reportedly invested approximately $817,000 in the predator control program over the past two years, leading to the deaths of 183 bears—all aimed at boosting the calving success of the Mulchatna herd. The legal battle over the program started in 2023 when the Alaska Wildlife Alliance claimed the state did not adequately notify the public regarding the expanded predator control measures.
Judge Andrew Guidi initially sided with the Alliance, ruling the state did not adhere to its own protocols, resulting in a decision deemed unconstitutional. This prompted the state to seek an emergency ruling from the Board of Game, which Rankin took over after Guidi’s retirement.
Despite the emergency order, the Alaska Wildlife Alliance contends that it mirrors the inadequate program identified in Guidi’s ruling, calling for more robust legislative oversight. Testimony during recent hearings revealed tensions between state officials and judicial recommendations, illustrating the ongoing complexities of managing wildlife populations amid public and environmental concerns.
Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation director, Ryan Scott, maintained that the state must uphold its statutory responsibilities regarding big game populations. In the ongoing discussions, logistical preparations are underway to ensure the predator removal operations can be executed efficiently if deemed necessary.
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