Game Board to Meet on Bear Snaring Issue

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – AnchorageThe state game board begins its meeting on Southcentral hunting issues on Saturday in Anchorage.  Proposals changing rules on bear snaring in a game management unit near Tyonek and Beluga have raised concerns among some conservation groups, like Anchorage based Alaska Center for the Environment.Valerie Connor is ACE’s conservation director.  She’s says there’s a  disturbing trend among upcoming proposals.Until recently, bear snaring was illegal in Alaska.  But last year, a tightly controlled, experimental program in Game Unit 16 B allowed limited snaring of black bears.Connor says the public has not had adequate notice of the proposals.Tony Kavalok, with  Fish and Game’s  division of wildlife conservation in Anchorage, says  bear snaring is aimed at reducing the numbers of bear which feed on moose calves.  He says 85 percent of the calves are lost within the first 90 days of lifePublic testimony before the game board is set for tomorrow through Sunday.Download Audio (MP3)