State of Alaska files lawsuit against US Fish and Wildlife over predator control plan

Alaska sues feds over predator control

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The state of Alaska has sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking a court order allowing it to go ahead with a controversial predator control program.

At issue is the state’s plan to kill wolves to preserve a caribou herd inside the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on Unimak Island, beginning as early as Tuesday.

The federal agency this week cautioned the state that killing the wolves without a special use permit would be considered “a trespass on the refuge” and immediately referred to the U.S. attorney.

The state is seeking a court order to kill wolves while the lawsuit continues.

A spokesman for the federal agency said he couldn’t comment without seeing the lawsuit that was filed Friday.