In a last minute injunction issued by an Alaska state court, advocates of Alaskan brown bears celebrated a major win today as the Mulchatna aerial gunning program came to a halt just as the 2025 bear-killing season was set to start. Legal action taken by Alaska Wildlife Alliance argued the predator control program violates Alaska’s Constitution and due process.
With more than 7,000 messages asking the state court to “abandon the program and protect Alaska’s bears,” Anchorage Superior Court Judge Christina Rankin’s decision halted aerial gunning in Units 17 and 18 of Western Alaska effective immediately.
“This is a crucial win for Alaska’s bears, and for everyone who believes in science-based, ethical wildlife management,” Nicole Schmitt, executive director of Alaska Wildlife Alliance, said. “The court has again made it clear that the state cannot steamroll legal protections or ignore its own constitution in the name of predator control.”
In 2023 and 2024, there were 180 reported brown bears killed, including cubs and yearlings, under the Mulchatna aerial gunning program, according to state personnel. The Mulchatna predator control program, led by Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has faced mounting criticism with advocates claiming it’s scientifically unsupported and ecologically reckless.
“This court decision gives Alaska’s brown bears a much-needed reprieve,” Katie Nolan, wild animals campaigner for In Defense of Animals, said. “Killing programs ignore the ecological importance of bears and the values of people who want to see them protected. It’s encouraging to see the courts recognize that what’s lawful also needs to be responsible.”
But the state said, while it will abide by the order and stop killing bears, it will explore its legal options to continue to protect the Mulchatna caribou calves, which are depressed because of predation from bears and wolves in Southwest Alaska.
“I remain convinced we will prevail in restoring this program and rebuilding the herd,” Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said. “It is our responsibility to do so. This will severely reduce our ability to rebuild this herd to provide sustained subsistence hunting opportunities as required under state law. We were in the third year of our efforts, and this order halted our work and jeopardized our recovery efforts.”
In Defense of Animals pledged its continued support to help Alaska Wildlife Alliance end the Mulchatna predator control program once and for all.
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