Bear watch

Natural History, May, 2007 by Larry Aumiller, Bill Sherwonit

In "Bad News for Bears" [3/07] Bill Sherwonit has done a creditable job reporting on a complex controversy. The issue of hunting McNeil River bears just outside the sanctuary boundaries has been profiled by some as a pro-hunting versus anti-hunting confrontation. Nothing could be further from the truth. The tradition of ethical hunting runs strong and deep in Alaska, and hunting is managed well.

The point is that in the past few years a new form of wildlife appreciation and use has emerged--bear viewing. If wildlife and wild land are to persist into the future, they need the support of all user groups. Nurturing the best place in the world to view brown bears (the McNeil River ecosystem) is a great way to accomplish that goal.

Larry Aumiller

Missoula, Montana

BILL SHERWONIT REPLIES:

As Larry Aumiller has probably since learned, and as others who read my article may be heartened to know, this past March 6 the Alaska Board of Game, reversing its decision of two years ago, voted unanimously to keep the Kamishak Special Use Area closed to brown-bear hunting.