Alaska wildlife officials are implementing a controversial strategy to protect the state’s dwindling caribou herds by eliminating their natural predators, including grizzly bears and wolves.
NPR’s Ailsa Chang recently discussed this contentious wildlife management approach with Max Graham, who writes for High Country News. The conversation focused on Alaska’s shrinking caribou numbers and the state’s decision to address the problem through targeted killing of predatory animals.
The predator control program represents Alaska’s latest effort to reverse the troubling decline in caribou populations across the state. Officials believe that reducing the number of bears and wolves will give caribou herds a better chance to recover and grow.
This approach to wildlife management has generated significant discussion among conservationists, hunters, and wildlife experts about the best methods for maintaining ecological balance in Alaska’s wilderness areas.
