I am disappointed that Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King voted to allow the killing of baby animals on refuges throughout Alaska.
Recently, the Senate voted 52-47 along party lines, with King crossing over on H.J. Res 69/S.J. Res 18 — a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Rule that went into effect this past September. That rule was supported by scientists, sportsmen, conservationists and the former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What Alaska officials want is to artificially increase the state’s game populations by indiscriminately and inhumanely killing carnivores such as wolves and bears. Mother bears and their cubs, denning wolves and their pups can now be killed by traps, snares, baiting and using airplanes to scout and hunt bears.
The votes by Sens. Collins and King set back efforts to restore natural diversity to the 76 million acres of refuges impacted by the legislation.
Tara Thornton, Litchfield
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