The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has culled 254 bears over four years in a targeted effort to boost the Mulchatna caribou herd, according to state records. Officials claim the program is a legal, surgical intervention to protect newborn calves from predation, while critics and former agency staff argue the initiative lacks scientific backing and fails to address the complexities of herd health.
Why is Alaska conducting aerial bear culls?
State wildlife managers are targeting bears to increase the survival rate of newborn caribou calves in Southwest Alaska. According to Ryan Scott, director of Fish and Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation, the program aims to keep predator pressure low enough for calves to reach reproductive age. This strategy is intended to help the Mulchatna herd recover from a population crash—dropping from 200,000 in the late 1990s to approximately 12,850 in 2021—to a target size that would allow for the resumption of subsistence and sport hunting.
Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang maintains that the program is a “fully legal interpretation” of state statutes that require the department to manage natural resources for public use. The state spent $1.57 million specifically on predator control between 2023 and 2025, according to department figures presented to the Board of Game.
The state’s predator control program uses small planes to spot bears, followed by a helicopter crew that uses 12-gauge shotguns to carry out the removals. While hides are salvaged for tanning and auction, the meat is rarely consumed by local residents, and carcasses are often left in the field.
How do critics respond to the predator control program?
Opposition to the cull is led by groups like the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, which argues the program is “wantonly wasteful” and ineffective. Head of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance Nicole Schmitt stated that the state is not really going to change anything, and it is just a bunch of waste. Critics point to the fact that the Mulchatna herd’s decline was also driven by brucellosis and overgrazing during the late 1990s, factors they believe are not addressed by removing bears.
What are the future trends for wildlife management in Alaska?
The conflict over predator control is expected to expand. Commissioner Vincent-Lang indicated that federal subsistence boards are increasingly requesting similar measures to protect caribou and other ungulates. This could lead to pressure to implement aerial gunning on federally owned lands that are currently off-limits to state-led programs.
Comparison: Management Methods
| Method | Primary Goal | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial Gunning | Immediate predator reduction | Active; subject to legal challenges |
| Extended Hunting | Long-term population control | Ongoing; rules loosened since 2022 |
For those following the legal battles surrounding this issue, monitoring the Alaska Board of Game meeting minutes provides the most direct look at how regulatory changes are being proposed and debated.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the bear meat used after the cull?
State officials have attempted to donate meat to local villages, but there is little interest in brown bear meat, according to department reports. - What happens to the bear hides?
Hides are salvaged by field teams, tanned, and sold at public auctions. Proceeds go to the department. - Has the caribou population increased?
The state reports the Mulchatna herd grew by 30% between 2023 and 2025, reaching an estimated 16,276 animals, though critics dispute the link between this growth and predator control.
What are your thoughts on the state’s approach to predator management in Southwest Alaska? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below, or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing updates on this developing story.
