Board of Game Denies Wolf Protection
The Board of Game has voted not to stop hunting and trapping of wolves that reside in the area surrounding the perimeter of Denali Park. These “golden wolves” are the most seen, most photographed and most valuable in the state. But the Board of Game in their infinite wisdom, voted unanimously to reject a petition filed by multiple wildlife groups. These groups were requesting the return of the “buffer zone” east of the park boundary where many wolves from the Granite pack would stray over park boundary lines into land where trapping and hunting were permitted. After the zone was…
Happy Socialist Money Grab Day, Alaska!
It’s $878, if you’ve been wondering. Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend check has been more, but it’s also been less. Established in 1976, after oil was discovered on Alaska’s North Slope, the permanent fund dividend gives every Alaskan cash back from oil wealth. Alaska is unique in that the residents, not private land owners or the government, own the oil. Hence, every year investments made pay residents back. Some years are better than others, but every man, woman and child gets a check – this year on October 4. The first dividend check was $1000. Last year’s check was $1174. We…
Chasing Ice
It’s always curious to hear protests from the Lower 48 insisting that climate change is a hoax, especially when one lives down the road from glaciers that aren’t—shall we say—what they used to be. I remember when I first moved to Alaska, back in 1991. One of my first “touristy” destinations was Portage Glacier. It’s just a quick drive down the Seward Highway from Anchorage. You could take a quick boat ride up to the face of the glacier, but I pulled up to the Begich-Boggs Visitors’ Center, got out of the car, and spent my time instead wandering the…
Begich Sides With Senate Republicans
Mark Begich has become the first Democrat to side with Republicans on a big bill coming up in the Senate. This bill is sponsored by Rand Paul (R-KY), and has listed among its co-sponsors Republicans David Vitter, James Inhofe, and Jim DeMint. And I’m tickled pink. See, you thought I was going to be all mad, and say that I had a bone to pick with the Senator. Gotcha! U.S. Senator Mark Begich has added his voice to those calling for an additional audit of the Federal Reserve by the General Accounting Office (GAO). He signed on to the bill…
Board of Game Trapped the Golden Goose
…and by “goose,” I mean wolf. For many years, I owned a gift shop in downtown Anchorage. There was nothing more fun than talking to sparkly-eyed tourists who’d just been on their bucket list adventure of a lifetime – a trip to Denali Park. I got to hear about the scenery, the back breaking 12-hour bus ride that they wouldn’t have missed for the world, and most of all, the wildlife – bears, moose, foxes, and most of all – wolves. Those who got to see a wolf, out in the wild, were changed. Sure they liked the bears and…
Lost at Sea: The Man in the Fish Tote
By Tele Aadsen Friday, September 7th, is a bad day on the ocean. With the forecast calling for Southeast winds of 35 knots and 11-foot seas, the Nerka spends the morning trolling in the mouth of Gilmer Bay. We hadn’t expected to be fishing at all today. If we catch anything, we reason, they’ll be bonus fish, and we’ll already be safe in the harbor’s arms when the wind comes up. On Day 13 of a grueling trip, a relaxing afternoon on anchor sounds good. We eat lunch on the pick shortly after the wind bares its teeth, but any further thought…
A Tale With Backbone
It’s story time! I know we haven’t had Mudflats story time in a long while now, but things get busy, and life gets complicated, and sometimes we forget. But right now, it’s time to snuggle in, because I’m going to tell you an important story – a story with heroes, and villains, and big dreams, and treasure. Lots and lots of treasure. It’s a story that started a long time ago, and it’s also a story that has no ending yet, because the ending hasn’t been written. It’s going to be up to all of you to decide how it…
Alaska’s Relationship of Convenience with EPA
Ever had a boss so hard to read you didn’t know if you were going to be fired or promoted? Mixed messages on a daily basis? It’s horrible. How are you supposed know what to do? A relationship in which you don’t know if you’ll be hit or hugged is much worse. “Can’t you just be a jerk all the time? It would make things so much easier.” It’s the back and forth, the uncertainty that make these situations unbearable. That’s why I feel bad for the folks at the Environmental Protection Agency. Oh, before you start calling me a…
Palin Wonders How Kerry Knows Her Name
It’s a mystery.. Former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is apparently surprised that former Presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry even knows her name. I’m guessing he watches TV, or reads things that are put in front of him. Or goes to a bookstore. Kerry gave Palin the moment she’d been undoubtedly waiting for – attention from the big bad Democrats. Having an enemy is the WD-40 that greases up the Palin jaw hinges – Alaska Republican Party Chair Randy Ruedrich, David Letterman, President Obama, former State Senate President Lyda Green, former radio host Dan Fagan, Russia, the good ol’…
The Morning After…
Southcentral Alaska had a bit of a “wind event” that began with escalating gusts yesterday afternoon, culminating in a storm that saw extensive wind damage to homes and businesses, felled trees, and the toppling of the huge spruce flagpole on the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. The iconic flag pole reportedly contained a time capsule from 1961 that had been welded shut until Mother Nature had other ideas. The earlier-than-usual storm came when trees were still full of green leaves. The top-heavy trees caught the wind, and many did not survive the gusts and were ripped up by the…