Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
January 2008

Trapping in Alaska

By Riley Woodford

The cold, dark heart of winter in Alaska is the trappers' time. Their observations and experiences provide remarkable insight into wildlife in Alaska.

Every year the Alaska Department of Fish and Game gathers comments and information from trappers and publishes an annual summary of trapping in Alaska. It's called the Trapper Questionnaire, but it's really the results of a questionnaire completed by trappers. It details trapping methods, trap lines, trapping effort, animals targeted, and ...   Trapping in Alaska ArticleContinued

Eagle Flight and Other Myths
Eagles Don’t Eat Children or Pets

By Riley Woodford

Every few years a story makes the rounds about a bald eagle carrying off a dog or trying to snatch someone's cat. Biologists who study birds of prey and folks who live around eagles have seen plenty snatching and carrying – as well as swooping and swimming – and they offered insights into what eagles really can and cannot do.

Bald eagles are strong, aggressive birds but like everything that flies they are governed by aerodynamics. The wings of an eagle need to support the eight to 12-pound ...   Eagle Myths & Fact ArticleContinued

Ask a Wildlife Biologist
Elk on Kodiak Island

By Larry Van Daele

Larry Van Daele, Fish and Game's Kodiak Area Wildlife Biologist

Question from Steve Steffensen, teacher, Kodiak

Q) On the Kodiak Archipelago there are several healthy elk herds. Could you tell my 5th and 6th grade class at Kodiak Christian School if there are any "verified" reports of elk on Kodiak Island proper?

A) Prior to the early 1900s there were only six land mammals on the islands of the Kodiak archipelago (tundra vole, short-tailed weasel, little brown ...   Elk on Kodiak Island ArticleContinued

Recipe
Caribou Chili

By John Bush

This recipe was created during the 25 years I lived in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and relies heavily on canned goods. Sometimes I'll substitute fresh or frozen for canned ingredients or include corn or leftover steak (my wife Karla likes to add garbanzo beans), depending on what's on hand and how much room's in the crock pot.


2 pounds ground caribou (or other wild game)
1 chopped onion
4 lg. cloves of garlic, diced
2 lg. can kidney beans, drained
1 can olives (whole or ...   Caribou Chili ArticleContinued