Alaska refuge proposes killing invasive caribou

Federal wildlife officials are considering deadly measures to keep an Alaska big game animal introduced more than 50 years ago to a remote island in the Aleutians from expanding its range.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing that caribou swimming from Adak (AY'-dak) Island to Kagalaska (kag-ah-LAS'-kah) Island be killed to prevent a new herd from being established.

Adak Island is 1,300 miles southwest of Anchorage. Caribou were transplanted onto Adak in 1958 to provide sport-hunting for military personnel assigned to a remote naval base formerly located there.

Kagalaska Island is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and a short swim away from Adak.

Refuge manager Steve Delehanty (del-ah-HAHN'-tee) says Kagalaska is a wilderness area and caribou would change its vegetation and natural diversity.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Alaska refuge proposes killing invasive caribou (2014, October 1) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2014-10-alaska-refuge-invasive-caribou.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Former 'Rat Island' in Alaska has whole new look

0 shares

Feedback to editors