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Saturday
March 29, 2014
Hooded Marganser
These birds can be skittish, but a 45 minute wait and endless patience by Lewis captured this beautiful photograph of this male Hooded Marganser
at White River recently.
Front Page Photo By JIM LEWIS ©2014
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Ketchikan: Alexander Archipelago wolf listing as "endangered or threatened may be warranted" says USFWS By MARY KAUFFMAN - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday that Alaska's Alexander Archipelago wolves may need protection under the Endangered Species Act because of unsustainable logging in the Tongass National Forest and elsewhere in southeast Alaska. The agency will now conduct an in-depth status review of what conservationists call a "rare subspecies" of gray wolf, which lives only in the region's old-growth forests.
Southeast Alaska Wolf
Photo by Robin Silver ©
Friday's decision responds to a petition filed in August 2011 by the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace. Following the status review and a public comment period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether or not to list the species as threatened or endangered.
The U.S. Forest Service announced late Friday it will be responding to the 90-day finding by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf as threatened or endangered, as will be outlined in the proposed rule scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on Monday, March 31, 2014.
Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole said,
“The Forest Service will work collaboratively with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as they evaluate the status of the Alexander Archipelago wolf.”
The range of the Alexander Archipelago wolf includes the mainland of Southeast Alaska and islands south of Frederick Sound, excluding Coronation, Forrester, and smaller, more isolated islands that lack an adequate prey base. Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands north of Frederick sound do not support wolves despite having seemingly adequate prey populations. However, several wolf sightings on Admiralty Island have been reported in recent years according to the Forest Service.
While the Forest Service reports it has seen localized areas where wolves appear vulnerable to harvest associated with legal and illegal trapping on Prince of Wales Island, the wolf population across the island as a whole and across the forest appears to be stable. The Forest Service has formed a technical working group with management partners to take a closer look at the issue and determine which management actions, if any, should be taken to address concerns about wolf conservation. As a first step the Forest Service is working together with Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a reliable method of estimating wolf numbers, which can be very difficult due to the elusive nature of wolves and the extensive old-growth forest spanning a remote landscape.
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Cole said, “The Forest Service remains committed to the conservation of wolf populations on the Tongass National Forest." He said, "The conservation strategy outlined in the 2008 Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan identifies management tools that are essential to maintaining viable wolf populations, such as sustainable harvest, sufficient prey habitat, buffers to protect dens, and a system of old-growth reserves (OGRs)." The conservation strategy was designed through a collaborative effort with Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with intensive peer review said Cole.
"The Forest Service is committed to working collaboratively with agency partners, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, to sustain populations of the Alexander Archipelago wolf throughout Southeast Alaska,” said Cole.
“Currently there are no reliable estimates of wolf numbers in Southeast Alaska," said Cole. "He said the Forest Service will be working together with Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a reliable method of estimating wolf numbers, which Cole said can be very difficult due to the elusive nature of wolves and the extensive old-growth forest spanning a remote landscape.
However over the years based on letters submitted to SitNews, not all in Southeast Alaska agree there is such an animal as the "rare" Alexander Archipelago Wolf. Some believe the wolf and domestic dogs have produced off-spring that are being identified as a "rare" subspecies of wolf.
But according to a 25-page declaration in 2013 regarding the Big Thorne Project submitted by wildlife biologist David K. Person, genetic and telemetry data indicate that the wolf population on the Prince of Wales Archipelago are isolated from all other wolves in Southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia. Person is a wildlife scientist with 22 years of experience studying Alexander Archipelago wolves (Canis lupus ligoni) and Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) in Southeast Alaska.
"The Alexander Archipelago wolf, one of Alaska's most fascinating species, needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act if it's to have any chance at survival," said Rebecca Noblin, Alaska director of the Center for Biological Diversity. "The Endangered Species Act is the strongest law in the world for protecting wildlife, and it can save these beautiful wolves from reckless logging and hunting."
Alexander Archipelago wolves den in the root systems of very large trees and hunt mostly Sitka black-tailed deer, which are themselves dependent on high-quality, old forests, especially for winter survival. A long history of clearcut logging on the Tongass and private and state-owned lands has devastated much of the wolf's habitat on the islands of southeast Alaska.
"This gray wolf subspecies exists only in southeast Alaska, and its principle population has declined sharply in the last few years," said Larry Edwards, Sitka-based Greenpeace forest campaigner and long-time resident of the region. "Endangered Species Act protection is necessary to protect the wolves, not least because of the Forest Service's own admission that its so-called transition out of old-growth logging in the Tongass will take decades. The negative impacts on these wolves are very long-term and have accumulated over the past 60 years of industrial logging." - More...
Saturday PM - Marach 29, 2014
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Fish Factor: Nine Vying for Three Seats on AK Board of Fisheries By LAINE WELCH - Nine names are vying for three seats on the state Board of Fisheries, including six newcomers. That gives Governor Parnell the unique opportunity to replace a majority of the seven-member Fish Board, should he choose to do so, and should the Alaska legislature go along with it - an unlikely scenario.
It took filing a Freedom of Information request and a 10 day wait to get the names of the Fish Board hopefuls, said veteran legislative watch dog Bob Tkacz in his weekly Laws for the Sea.
They include the three incumbents - John Jensen of Petersburg, Sue Jeffrey of Kodiak, and Reed Morisky of Fairbanks. All have re-applied for three-year terms that begin July 1.
The newcomers include: Alan Gross of Petersburg, an orthopedic surgeon and new commercial fishing skipper; Dean Scott Risley, a 26-year gillnetter from Haines; Harvey Kitka, a hand troller and Sitka Tribal council member; William Kuhlmann, a retired Bristol Bay setnetter now living in Eagle River; Thane Humphrey, a business/training entrepreneur and outdoor survival expert from Anchorage, and Cary Jones, a Juneau chiropractor.
By state statute, the Alaska governor must make all board and commission selections by April 1; the legislature has scheduled a joint session for April 11 to vote on all confirmations.
Fish watch
Herring seiners at Sitka Sound last week landed close to their 16,000 ton quota and roe counts were high – the only thing missing is a price. Lots of herring roe remains in the freezers of Alaska’s single customer – Japan, who had yet to make an advance price offer. Last year Sitka fishermen averaged about $500/ton; talk on the dock last week put it closer to $150.
Conversely, freezers of sablefish (black cod) have emptied and pushed up prices for those prized fish. Seafood.com reports fishermen’s prices at Southeast Alaska at $5.25 for 5/7 pounders, $4.50 for 4/5s, and $3.75 for ≤ pound fish. Buyers report good interest in sablefish and more demand is coming from US restaurants. Last year about 70% of Alaska sablefish went to Japan, down from nearly 100 percent a few years ago. - More....
Saturday PM - March 29, 2014 |
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Columns - Commentary
 DAVE KIFFER: When it’s springtime in Alaska it’s 40 below. - With all due respect to Johnny Horton, everyone knows that summertime in Alaska is when it’s 40 below. It is still hovering in the minus 60s in springtime.
Still, it does leave one wondering just how you can tell it is actually springtime in Alaska or at least in our little part of it.
Sure, officially springtime usually arrives sometime around March 20 or 21 or 22 or 23 or so.
Which of course begs the question, why don’t they just pick one day and stick with it?
Why make it so confusing? It is so hard to plan ahead if you have no idea which day spring will come until you get the 2014 calendar from Tatsuda’s.
I mean Christmas always comes on December 25th. Valentine’s Day is always February 14.
Washington’s birthday is always, well it’s always that day when they have those big car sales and it’s a Monday and it’s now President’s Day.
Somewhere George and Abe are sitting at a table scratching their heads.
“Kids use to get both our birthdays off from school,” Abe is saying. “Now the only folks celebrating are Chevy and Ford. Oy vey.”
But I digress.
So, since it is usually snowing heavily somewhere in Alaska on whichever day in March is the official start of spring, how does one really know when it actually springtime in Alaska?
Everybody has a different “tell” to borrow a poker term which seems right, because assuming spring will ever really arrive is a gamble.
My mom sees the arrival of skunk cabbages as the sign. The minute those odd little green growths start arising from the mud, she believes that spring has indeed sprung.
- More...
Saturday - March 29, 2014 |
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Viewpoints
Commentary
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Questions, please contact
the editor at editor@sitnews.us or call 617-9696
Sitnews reserves the right to edit.
 Education By A. M. Johnson - Couple of items related to Ketchikan education and then Alaska directly. As to Ketchikan and the issue of funding education, having been a Borough Assemblyman, and a school board member the current and annual issue of the funding process is not a mystery. The school board acts on Feelings the assembly acts on Reality . While there are frustrations, as well there should be, one can't ignore the basis of why the assembly is the money belt. Were the school board to act as its own taxing body as it was at one point in the history of Alaska, all the frustrations would disappear would they not? Looking at the scope of expenditures required and wish list of what could be it would be short order till the district would be taxing at a run away level would be my opinion. That is said as past listening to hours of pleading for this or that, and it is always for the children. Yet, in excess of 85% of every dollar acquired currently is directed to the cost of people. Pressure that against the desire to have the latest in educational fad or Best Practice or Current Research and you can see there would be no bottom or limits to funding efforts. - More...
Thursday PM - March 27, 2014
Protecting the unborn By Dave Jensen - I was moved by Marie Zelmer's letter to stand with those that are trying to protect the life of those innocent unborn babies. - More...
Thursday PM - March 27, 2014
RE: The idiocracy of Anti-Realists By Heather Morris -
It is safe to say that Marie Zellmer's letter was her own personal opinion. Correct? An opinion which some may share with her and some do not. Again, an opinion non the less which she is entitled to have. However, calling people idiots for having a different opinion is just down right mean. - More...
Thursday PM - March 27, 2014
The idiocracy of Anti-Realists By Marie Zellmer -
Again I find myself inundated by the idiocy of some people. I would ignore it, but they now stand on the street corner annoying all with their stupidity. First of all you can't even get an abortion in Ketchikan, you have to go 400 miles away. Second, it is LAW, and even the Bible says to accept and obey the laws of your kingdom. Third, and most important, not every woman was created to bear children equally. Having a safe abortion procedure available saves lives, of those who are unable to. Lastly, having a procedure does not mean the woman hates children, it is an act of love. Yes, Love! - More....
Tuesday PM - March 25, 2014
Herring Cove By Ken Arriola -
I feel compelled to reiterate my argument on the behalf of the residents/ private property owners of Herring Cove. I guess I'm befuddled as to why the Ketchikan Borough deems itself the purveyor of tourism activities in a predominantly residential neighborhood. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
SB 182 By Dan Ortiz - I read with interest and concern the recent article in the Ketchikan Daily News, concerning the potential passage of S.B. 182. and the subsequent demonstration by the IBU, (Inlandboatmen’s Union), the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union. The IBEW joined the protest. As a longtime resident of southern Southeast Alaska and as candidate for the AK State House District 36, I stand with the workers and their families on this issue. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
THE SUBCHAPTER'S CORPORATION SOCIAL SECURITY TAX AVOIDANCE SCAM By David G. Hanger -
A local half-wit or two has once again concluded that the licensed practitioners of Ketchikan, despite their collective 250 to 300 years of field experience, and the untold thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, regulators, and accountants who have contributed to making these laws are, nonetheless, all dunces, particularly in light of your extreme brilliance in seeing what none of the rest of us have ever seen, that you can form a Subchapter S corporation and never pay social security taxes again. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
Real Reality Cruise Ship Woes By Rob Holston -
Welcome aboard the USS Concep’tione 40 week world voyage. You have been assigned a state-room where ALL of your needs are automatically taken care of: meals served 24/7 with ALL the nutrition perfectly blended and balanced for your individual physical and mental growth and development; climate controlled comfort; every detail taken care of. The name on your state-woom might be Montana, California, Georgia ..... only problem is, it was assigned to you along with a womb-keeper. Google WOMB. She alone has the soul power to toss you overboard at any time during the first 13 weeks of your cruise for ANY reason, her discretion. Your little heart beats frantically as you sense a stranger at your door. You see the womb-keeper will be assisted by one person who has been trained to drag you from your room, kicking and screaming, you will be pulled from your room one piece at a time; arms & legs & then the rest, an early end to “once in a lifetime cruise”. - More...
Saturday - March 22, 2014
B.C. Transboundary Mine Development By Rob Sanderson, Jr. -
My grandmother who raised me taught me an important lesson — take care of the land and water, and it will take care of our present and future generations. I try to live by that principle every day. That’s why I’m speaking out about industrial developments happening near my home in Southeast Alaska. These developments are occurring across the border in Canada, but they have the potential to pollute Southeast Alaska rivers and harm our wild salmon. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014
Another Pre-election Gasline Study By Bill Walker -
Here we go again. With another gubernatorial election we get another gas line study (SB 138) designed to fool voters into thinking there's progress on gas line development. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014
TERRIBLE TODDLERS By Rob Holston -
Elective Abortion is legal in all 50 states. That’s the law. So why don’t the most liberal states allow elective killing of toddlers i.e. the TERRIBLE TWOS? - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014
Meter Choice By Amanda Mitchell - On March 5th, Ketchikan Public Utilities came to our house to install a digital ‘smart’ meter on our home. We have been very vocal about not wanting one and you can even reference my online Sitnews letter Technology. The gentleman stated his name was Mark Johnson and we didn’t get the name of the other KPU employee. I do have to give them credit that they have not installed a meter or they switched it back when we caught them in the act, but Mr. Johnson threatened us saying they would disconnect our power in the future if we did not switch over. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014
Please don't poison me!! By Sally Balch -
I have lived in Ketchikan most of my life. I live here because we don't live in polluted surroundings and for the most part we have a very clean pristine environment. I'm not a Greenpeace or anything like that, but I am very worried about putting ammonia in our water system. I have several allergies and one of them is ammonia. I can't breath it touch it or have it at all in my home. - More...
Tuesday PM - March 18, 2014
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