State of Alaska Welcomes National Park Service's Proposed Changes to Hunting, Trapping Regulations on National Preserves
- ADF&G Press Release

Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526


Press Release: May 22, 2018

CONTACT: Maria Gladziszewski, Deputy Director, (907) 465-4114

State of Alaska Welcomes National Park Service's Proposed Changes to Hunting, Trapping Regulations on National Preserves

Juneau) — Commissioner Sam Cotten today welcomed announcement of the National Park Service's proposed amendments to its 2015 Final Rule for Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves in Alaska. The proposed changes would remove regulatory provisions issued in October 2015 that significantly expanded authority given to the National Park Service by Congress for fish and wildlife management in Alaska's national preserves.

"The new proposed regulations acknowledge that the State of Alaska has the primary authority to manage wildlife throughout Alaska," said Cotten. "State of Alaska and Park Service policies were consistent for decades; no conservation concern or scientific basis existed to justify the 2015 changes."

Social media posts and media reports have begun to cloud the issue with claims that the proposed changes will open the door for state predator control programs on Park Service lands. To be clear, the state does not conduct predator control in national preserves, and wildlife harvests under general hunting regulations aren't part of predator control programs. The state would be allowed to conduct predator control in preserves only with Park Service authorization.

The state's goal, as primary wildlife manager on all lands within its borders, will be to continue maintaining healthy and sustainable wildlife populations, both predators and prey. This is consistent with the state constitution and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act provisions that maintain the historical authorities of the state to manage fish and wildlife.

"We look forward to working with our federal partners to maintain a cooperative relationship," Cotten said. "We encourage Alaskans to review and offer their comments on the Park Service's proposed changes."