April 7, 2005 - 1:35 AM

Alaska Starts Kill of Grizzly Bears to Boost Moose

ANCHORAGE (Reuters) - For the first time since Alaskabecame a U.S. state, hunters will be allowed to use bait tolure and kill grizzly bears under a program intended to boostmoose populations in parts of interior Alaska.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game began issuingpermits last week for a predator-control program aimed atclearing out the majority of grizzlies in a 3,000-square-milearea of brushy terrain and tundra near the Canadian border.

The program, launched on April 1, allows permitted huntersto use bear-attracting food to lure the animals to spots wherethey can be shot. The practice, though used in the distantpast, was not permitted during the 46 years of Alaskanstatehood.

Alaska hunters have long been allowed to use bait to lureblack bears, but that practice was never extended to the largerand less plentiful grizzlies and coast-dwelling brown bears.

Critics say it is unethical and dangerous because itacquaints bears with human and pet food, such as the stalepastries and bacon grease used at bait stations. Alaska voterslast fall rejected a ballot initiative that would have outlawedthe practice.

The Alaska Board of Game, a panel appointed by RepublicanGov. Frank Murkowski, has determined that the grizzlybear-killing program is needed to increase residents'opportunities to successfully hunt moose, said Fish and Gamespokeswoman Cathie Harms.

"The moose population is depressed. It's at densities notquite but close to half of what the board had held as anobjective," Harms said.

Critics say the program could devastate the grizzlies,animals with slow reproductive rates, with no real benefit tothe moose.

"It's unconscionable, as far as I'm concerned," said JohnToppenberg, director of the Anchorage-based Alaska WildlifeAlliance, "There's no real science to back that up. What youhave is some people complaining that there's not as many mooseto shoot as there were in the 40s, and so on."

Harms said state officials have concluded that in this partof Alaska, grizzlies are the main source of predation on moose,followed by wolves and black bears.

An estimated 135 grizzly bears live in the targeted area,and the program seeks to have up to 81 of those killed, stateofficials said. The target area is included in a program thathas allowed aircraft-assisted hunters to kill 266 wolves sinceNovember, according to Fish and Game figures.