Anchorage Daily News

Proposed tightening of trapping restrictions within Chugach State Park renewed a months-old debate this week as opponents of wolverine trapping in the park showed up to testify against the practice.

Also at the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation public hearing Wednesday were trappers, who said the rules go too far in limiting an activity they have enjoyed for decades.

The proposed regulations would broaden the setback from trails and trail heads from which trappers may set traps within the park. They also would eliminate trapping in Bird Creek Regional Park and municipal owned land adjacent to, and managed by, Chugach State Park. The changes mention nothing about wolverines, nor are they intended to, said Chris Degernes, chief of operations for the division.

"We've really wrestled with this position," she said. "Ultimately, we've restricted our role, our regulations, to protecting public safety. We would try to protect the safety of the majority of users in these areas."

Tom Meacham, an attorney and former Chugach State Parks advisory board chairman, said he was disappointed by the proposed trapping restrictions because he feels they are a weak attempt to appease those whose ultimate issue with trapping is the targeting of wolverines, whose populations in the park have been estimated as low as six and as high as 15.

But management of wolverines, Degernes said, is something she sees as a responsibility of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Board of Game. The Board of Game in March opened portions of the park to wolverine trapping, a move that had not been recommended by the Chugach State Park Advisory Board or by biologists within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Those agencies cited the rarity of the animals in the park as reason enough to keep wolverine trapping off-limits. It also cited the public-safety hazard of the most prevalent traps used when targeting wolverines, the powerful, 330 Conibear trap. It is large enough to quickly kill larger animals such as wolves, wolverines and dogs.

The surprise Board of Game decision set off a series of debates over wolverine trapping, including a public hearing in the spring hosted by Degernes' division. Despite the call for rescinding the six-week-long trapping season, which is under way through Jan. 31, the Board of Game has not changed its position.

CLASH OF RIGHTS

Meacham testified on Wednesday that the Division of Parks has the primary responsibility to manage wildlife within the park, not the Board of Game or Fish and Game.

"I'm a little baffled that parks has decided to roll over to (the Board of Game)," he said. "Their own statutes require them to have a more protective attitude to wolverines than the Board of Game does. As a rare species or a species that park visitors would like to see, frankly I don't understand why the division of parks has not decided to do more."

Degernes said she thinks that statute is open to interpretation.

"We try to figure out what we consider a reasonable balance of the public's right to public safety and a trapper's right to trap," she said.

Chugach State Park superintendent Tom Harrison, who also was at the meeting, said he said it is all about compromise.

"Trapping is a legitimate, legal form of outdoor recreation," he said. "There are many primary purposes of the park. Wildlife viewing is one of them, but forms of outdoor recreation is another."

TIGHT RULES, LOOSE RULES

Trappers at Wednesday's meeting defended their activity of choice, saying that more restrictions within the park will make it difficult for them to continue any type of trapping.

"I believe this (proposed) regulation goes beyond what is necessary," said Scott Gellerman, a trapper who testified. "These (changes) eliminate a valuable opportunity in a close proximity of Anchorage for youngsters to trap before having to go home and put them to bed."

Tony DeGange, a wildlife biologist and researcher from Chugiak, testified that he had a dog caught in a trap while hiking several years ago. While the dog survived, he felt that the trap was set too close to a trail used by people and their pets. The proposed regulations would require traps be set more than 100 yards from trails and more than a half-mile from trail heads.

"I strongly support a larger setback, say five miles," he said.

But pets are not considered the "public," pointed out Steven Flory, another trapper who testified. "Dogs are property, they are not people," he said, and making regulations to protect pets is not needed.

Degernes, after the hearing, said she did not see it that way. While it is the responsibility of pet owners to have control of their pets, she said they should still be allowed to enjoy parks without fear for their pets' safety.

"I don't buy into that," she said. "Most people think of their dogs as family members."

Find Melissa DeVaughn online at adn.com/contact/mdevaughn or call 257-4482.

LEARN MORE: The public has until Jan. 2 to comment, in writing, regarding the proposed trapping regulations, as well as other changes to parks rules, including opening some trails to mountain biking, requiring dogs be on leashes on some trails, and increasing park fees at some boat launches. To see the proposed changes, go to alaskastateparks.org and click on "Special Notices." Directions for making public comments are included.

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