A proposal to allow bear snaring in remote central Alaska failed to pass a vote by the state’s Board of Game recently. The proposal was aimed at giving another tool to villagers to control the abundant black bear population, which they believe is impacting moose numbers.
Maine remains the only state that allows bear snaring. Unfortunately, the Board’s vote was strongly influenced by their fear of public perception among animal rights sympathizers. What wasn’t mentioned is that state Fish and Wildlife agencies use the same snares to humanely and safely capture bears as part of long term research projects.
Interestingly, the proposal would only apply to state and tribal land within the unit, because the Federal government banned bear snaring on their lands in Alaska during the Obama administration. A new measure in Congress could potentially reverse that move.
FAIRBANKS — The Alaska Board of Game voted down a measure Thursday that would have let hunters in the Fort Yukon area trap bears with snares.
Source: Alaska Game Board rejects bear snaring measure | Local News | newsminer.com