The Conservation Report

I support hunting, but this is ridiculous. Historically, bounty hunting has contributed to the extinction of animals such as the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus), Mexican grizzly bear (Ursus arctos nelsoni), and wolves inhabiting the British Isles. At one time, there was even a bounty on Alaskan Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Large predators are often persecuted because of conflicts with humans. However, large predators are important in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Certainly, the high point of conservation is living with large predators and preserving ecosystems that contain large predators.

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

Palin approved and expanded the state’s aerial predator control program, where wolves are shot from aircraft and bears hunted from aircraft and killed upon landing. This year, her state biologists even dragged 14 newborn wolf pups from their den and, having already shot their parents, then shot each of the pups in the head at close range. Last year, her administration offered a $150 bounty for each wolf killed until the bounty was ruled illegal by the courts. Hundreds of wolves are killed each year by this antiquated state program that has no scientific justification whatsoever, but rather is designed to appease Palin’s urban sport hunter supporters.