Section 5 AAC 92.110 - Control of predation by wolves(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this title, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may, in accordance with this section, and consistent with any applicable predation control implementation plan adopted by the board, conduct a wolf population reduction or wolf population regulation program. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee, including contracted agents of other governmental agencies, may reduce wolf populations in an efficient manner, by any means, but as safely and humanely as practical, including the use of a helicopter.(e) After the board has adopted a predation control implementation plan, the commissioner may, at any time during the period for which the plan is in effect, determine whether to implement the plan and may, by regulation, amend the plan to apply additional restrictions in light of circumstances existing at the time of implementation.(f) If the board authorizes issuance of public aerial shooting permits or public land and shoot permits as a method of wolf removal, the commissioner may, at any time while the plan is in effect, implement land and shoot or aerial shooting by order of the department. A permit may be issued under 5 AAC 92.039. The department may monitor programs involving the use of aircraft from the air.(g) To the extent practicable, a person taking wolf under a wolf population reduction or wolf population regulation program must retrieve the wolf so that maximum economic and scientific value may be realized from each wolf.(h) Poison may not be used to take a wolf, except that carbon monoxide cartridges may be used to humanely euthanize wolf young in the den in areas under a predation control implementation plan.(i) The killing of wolf young in the den, commonly known as "denning", is prohibited, unless the commissioner authorizes the killing of wolf young in the den in areas under a predation control implementation plan.(k) The commissioner shall stop the taking of wolves under the implementation plan and, if necessary, stop other taking in the affected area for the remainder of the regulatory year, when plan objectives adopted by the board for that area have been reached for that year.(l) This section applies only to a specific program designed to reduce or regulate wolf populations for the purpose of managing wild prey populations. This section does not apply to other responsibilities of the commissioner, such as activities relating to (3) stocking conducted under AS 16.05.050;(4) issuance of permits for collection of animals under AS 16.05.340(b);(5) the isolated taking of animals necessary for immediate protection of wildlife populations or the general public or property under AS 16.05.020; or(6) issuance of any other department permits authorized by state or federal law.(m) A wolf population reduction or wolf population regulation program established under this section is independent of, and does not apply to, hunting and trapping authorized in 5 AAC 84 - 5 AAC 85.Eff. 7/5/85, Register 95; am 7/1/92, Register 122; am 5/5/93, Register 126; am 10/1/93, Register 127; am 7/1/2004, Register 170; am 1/1/2005, Register 172; am 7/1/2005, Register 174; am 3/10/2006, Register 177; am 7/1/2009, Register 190; am 5/16/2010, Register 194; am 7/1/2012, Register 202Authority:AS 16.05.255
AS 16.05.270
AS 16.05.783