FAIRBANKS -- Wildlife officials will kill grizzly and black bears in a 540-square mile region of Western Alaska so that more moose can survive and be hunted by village residents.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the seven-member citizen Board of Game on Sunday voted unanimously to kill bears for two years starting in spring 2013 using Department of Fish and Game shooters in helicopters.

The department estimates there are 135 to 160 black bears and 10 to 15 grizzly bears in the area, which covers Kalskag, Aniak, Sleetmute and Stony River.

Department officials say the bear deaths will have a minor effect on the overall bear populations in all of Game Management Unit 19A, which covers nearly 10,000 square miles.

Aerial wolf-killing has been going on in the same area since 2004.