Alaska’s Wolf Kill Program Ended

Gov. Tony Knowles canceled the state’s wolf kill program Friday, calling it cruel and ineptly run.

Knowles had suspended the program and ordered an investigation after a botched wolf kill was shown on nationwide television Nov. 29.

The footage showed a state hunter shooting a snared wolf four times before it died. Also shown was a wolf that had gnawed its leg to a bloody stump in a failed attempt to escape a snare.

“The report showed a program that was professionally mismanaged, caused indiscriminate killing of other wildlife and was an unacceptable way to treat any animal,” said Knowles, a Democrat who took over from Republican Walter J. Hickel last month.

Knowles also ordered an investigation of people involved in the wolf kill, and into other predator control policies that are to be considered by the Board of Game next month.