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Friends of Admiralty Island Friends Of Admiralty Island Newsletter Issue No. 18 February 2014 My Side of the Island by K.J. Metcalf, President Brown Bears – A Continuing Concern reproductive rate – breeding at age 7 or 8, average “One of the most important legacies that we can 1.8 cubs/litter, and may keep the cubs as long as 3-4 leave our grandchildren is an island full of bears.” years before breeding again. Hank Lentfer, Voices of Admiralty 2011 We believe that in Game Management Unit 4 (Baranof, Chichagof and Admiralty islands) the Brown bears, an iconic symbol of Admiralty, total number of bears killed and the female ratio have been one of the most debated resources on of that total have at times exceeded the agreed to the island. Friends of Admiralty Island has long caps (given an estimated population of 1,560 bears advocated for balance between bear viewing and from a 20-year old population sampling). We bear hunting, with a conservative limit on number also contend that since 1960 the size and age of of bears hunted and the number of females killed. the bears killed has steadily decreased (currently Translated - Admiralty females have a very low ...continued on page 2 ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, March 1, 2014 • Juneau Yacht Club Featuring Hank Lentfer Join Friends of Admiralty to hear Hank Lentfer discuss wilderness and the human spirit and to preview The Meaning of Wild, a stunning film on Tongass wilderness. PLEASE SEE THE FULL MEETING SCHEDULE ON PAGE 3. Join us in celebrating the Wilderness Act’s 50th anniversary - More Inside See page 8. Annual Meeting .............. p. 3 Aleut Internment ............p. 3 Issues .............................p. 4 Spring Cruise ................ p. 6 Sue Warner ..................... p. 7 Kootznoowoo .................p. 8 Biosphere Reserve ...... p. 10 Polar Bear DNA Link ... p. 10 Charles L. Pack ........... p. 11 The still waters of an Admiralty Island lake. (Bruce Baker) Page 2 • Winter 2014 Friends of Admiralty Island My Side of the Island...from page 1 Friends Of the bulk of bears killed in GMU 4 are between 4-6 years old). We Admiralty continually hear concerns that some southern Admiralty Island bays Island are hunted more intensely with overcrowding by guided hunts. At our 2013 Annual Meeting we hosted a panel discussion to Friends of Admiralty Island is address these concerns. Fish and Game department panel members a non-profit, public interest, concluded that the kill data we had were different than theirs (even volunteer organization formed though our data were compiled from ADF&G records) and that there in 1987. We depend on member was no need for additional bear population studies or research or new donations and grants to carry hunting regulations on Admiralty. out a program of advocating for the island’s protection through We value our cooperative relationship with ADF&G and depend education, promoting research on them for their expertise and knowledge, but we still scratch our and supporting management heads over how our bear kill data differ from theirs. Bear hunting that reflects the recognition of management is complicated. But, briefly – The U.S. Forest Service the island’s values: ecological (FS) permits commercial bear guides that have been licensed by diversity (including its abundant the state. The Alaska Board of Game (BOG) sets harvest numbers fish and wildlife), wilderness setting, Tlingit Indian culture, and seasons, and ADF&G implements and manages the hunting prehistoric and historic record seasons and provides scientific and observational data to the BOG to and geological makeup. We help guide their decisions. The goals for managing brown bears in believe that as people and GMU4 evolved from a remarkable collaborative effort, created by agencies understand and the BOG in 2000, which brought stakeholders together to hammer appreciate these values they out a conservative strategy for harvest guidelines. The published will become stronger champions report from the Brown Bear Management Team (BBMT) has been for the island’s protection. the anchor to help guide hunting regulations in GMU4. Rarely does this kind of give and take of special interests on a hot-button issue Board of Directors like brown bears succeed. In this case it did and we celebrate that collaborative success. K.J. Metcalf, President Joel Bennett, Vice President There are also some fundamental state-wide issues that are Ric Iannolino, Secretary alarming. Specifically, state biologists have been directed that in many Butch Laughlin, Treasurer, Wally Frank cases, policy trumps science - science matters only when it supports Dan Montieth policy. This is a very dangerous precedent. Sue Warner Additionally, we are deeply concerned that the BOG and Newsletter design and layout by ADF&G have embraced predator control as a solution for a number Island Design / Andy Romanoff of complex Alaska wildlife issues. The current brown bear war on the Editor, Bruce Baker Kenai Peninsula is precedent setting – a dramatic increase in bears being killed by allowing baiting and currently there is no cap on either Friends of Admiralty Island total numbers of bears or females killed. The debate has evolved to PO Box 20791 whether the Kenai brown bear population is at risk of being wiped out Juneau, Alaska 99802 in 25 years. (907) 586-6738 Bears will likely be the losers. Could this happen on Admiralty? Probably not to the same extent. On Admiralty, bears rule because www.friendsofadmiralty.org of the protective Wilderness and National Monument designations. [email protected] ...continued on page 4 Friends of Admiralty Island Winter 2014 • Page 3 FRIENDS OF ADMIRALTY ISLAND ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, March 1, 2014 • Juneau Yacht Club • All Are Welcome 2:00 - 3:00 PM Business Meeting 4:00 - 5:00 PM Award-winning author Hank Lentfer, “A Voice in the Wilderness” 6:00 - 7:00 PM – Potluck Bring a dish to share and enjoy a variety of terrific food. 7:00 PM – A beautiful new film on Tongass Wilderness Areas Presented by Adam Andis, Sitka Conservation Society For more information call 586-6738. Aleut Internment - Funter Bay and Killisnoo When war came to the Aleutians in 1942, the Funter Bay Memorial Plaque U.S. military anticipated a long campaign and the “This Plaque is erected and dedicated to remember and presence of civilians in isolated Aleut villages was to honor those infants who were born at Funter Bay considered a problem. The decision was made to during the Internment of the Pribilof Aleut People during evacuate the villages with only a few hours’ notice the Second World War and who never saw their ancient island homeland; those elders who suffered and died to the residents. Their destination was unknown. here, yearning but never able to return to their homes As the ships full of evacuees headed towards and to those who survived this tragic chapter in the Southeast Alaska there was a scramble to locate any history of the Unangan People, and heroically returned kind of housing available. The transport ship Delarof, to St. George and St Paul Islands to rebuild their carrying villagers from St. George, St. Paul and Atka communities and their lives. was almost to Southeast when it received orders to May their Memory be Eternal.” proceed to Admiralty Island. Last-minute frantic ar- rangements had secured the use of old cannery and Fr. Michael Oleksa, Russian Orthodox Priest, blesses the Aleut cemetery on the May 2013 Friends of Admiralty Cruise to Funter Bay. mine buildings in Funter Bay for the St. George and St. Paul villagers and for Atka refugees the derelict herring plant at Killisnoo (next to Angoon). Life in these camps was unsanitary, unhealthy, cold, wet and inhumane. The youngest and the old- est villagers suffered a high mortality rate. Cem- eteries at the two camps are the final resting place for an unknown number of Aleuts. This internment was harsh, but when the evacuees finally returned to the Aleutians they faced starting life over again with most villages partially or completely destroyed along with their personal, cultural and religious property destroyed or missing. The internment story is too important not to be known, so Friends of Admiralty Island plan to erect a memorial plaque, authored by Fr. Michael Oleksa for Funter Bay and an appropriate plaque for Killisnoo. Page 4 • Winter 2014 Friends of Admiralty Island Admiralty Issues Angoon Airport Angoon’s air service is currently served by a Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for float plane dock adjacent to the boat harbor, about the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), an half a mile from the town center. The Alaska Dept. assessment of several alternative locations and the of Transportation (DOT) has proposed a land- environmental, social and economic consequences based airport to better serve the travel, freight and of each. A draft has been circulated to agencies for medivac needs of Angoon. comment before the public review draft becomes DOT proposes building an airport in available. Favorite Bay (Alt. 3a), a remote site within FAA has identified their Preferred Alternative the Kootsnoowoo Wilderness with no existing (Alt.12a) as best meeting Angoon’s needs. FAA infrastructure – requiring construction of a 3-4.5 has done an outstanding job of gathering data and mile road and bridge for access). The Federal analyses of the many impacts and working closely with Angoon. FAA’s preferred airport location is adjacent to the existing ferry terminal (with nearby DOT’s Alternative roads, electricity and power) and a short drive from the ferry terminal and town. Why the disparity between the two alternatives? Compared to DOT’s proposal, FAA’s Alternative FAA’s alternative is more cost effective, is easier for Angoon to access, would have less adverse Ferry Port environmental impacts and would be less difficult to build and maintain.
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