307 



Mr. Anderson? 



Dr. Anderson. As you may be aware, Senator Murkowski, the 

 Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the State of Alaska has 

 been caught up in a very, very long, heated debate over this issue 

 of predator control or predator management. The Board of Game, 

 of course, has been intimately involved in that as well. 



About a year or two ago we were instructed by the Board of 

 Game to develop a public participation process, which we are now 

 heavily involved in within the State of Alaska, to develop a consen- 

 sus on what is acceptable manipulation, if any, of predator-prey 

 systems, what techniques should be allowed, what techniques 

 should not be allowed. 



At this point in time, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 

 Division of Wildlife Conservation, is withholding judgment on that 

 issue pending a resolution through this process. 



Senator Murkowski. Through a process of consensus? 



Dr. Anderson. Through a consensus-building process that is 

 going to involve representation from a broad spectrum of interest- 

 ed publics, one of which will be the Department. 



Senator Murkowski. One of which will be the what? 



Dr. Anderson. One of which will be a representative from the 

 Department of Fish and Game. 



Senator Murkowski. But you are going to formulate a predator 

 policy based on a consensus, and I assume you have got scientific 

 studies which draw some conclusions, just like we do here with the 

 TLMP, which we may or may not agree with, but nevertheless 

 have. 



Dr. Anderson. That is right, there are studies, there are scientif- 

 ic studies that indicate that over the short term it is possible to in- 

 crease the number of ungulates by reducing wolf populations in 

 some areas. 



There are no studies to my knowledge that indicate that that is a 

 long-term solution, but rather it has to be something that is imple- 

 mented over and over again, perhaps at very great cost. 



Senator Murkowski. Do we know why the deer take on the ABC 

 Islands is two or three a year, whatever it is, and on the other is- 

 lands it is much less? 



Dr. Anderson. Do we know why the bag limit 



Senator Murkowski. Why the limits are higher on the ABC Is- 

 lands and less on the other islands? 



Dr. Anderson. Yes, of course, because the Board of Game set 

 those limits higher at the request of the Department and the con- 

 currence of the advisory committee several years ago, because of 

 the abundance of deer on those islands is higher. 



Senator Murkowski. Is there a reason for abundance of deer on 

 those islands? 



Dr. Anderson. Is there a reason? Well, there are a number of 

 reasons. First of all, they are maritime islands. As you move west 

 away from the coastline, the habitat improves because the climate 

 moderates, snow depths are lower. 



There is on Admiralty Island and portions of Baranof and Chi- 

 chagof excellent wildlife or deer habitat, high volume stands that 

 don't occur on the mainland. 



