US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant for Alaska Peninsula Large Mammal Capture & Survey

PURPOSE:

The continued monitoring, management, and study of factors affecting the abundance of the Northern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd (NAPCH), Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd (SAPCH), Unimak Island Caribou Herd (UCH), moose, and wolves on the Alaska Peninsula. Data regarding population demographics such as population composition, recruitment, and survival rates provide information that is fundamental to the Department’s management decisions regarding the NAPCH, SAPCH, UCH, moose, and wolves. Radio-collared animals are an essential component of monitoring activities as they provide information regarding the locations, movements, and survival rates of caribou, moose, and wolves on the Alaska Peninsula. This information facilitates appropriate management of caribou, moose, and wolves for the long-term benefit of subsistence and recreational users. The purpose of this agreement is to provide support and assistance to the Department in acquiring information fundamental to the management of caribou, moose, and wolves on the Alaska Peninsula.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this agreement are to provide support and assistance to the Department for capture and survey operations. Capture and survey operations will be conducted by Department wildlife biologists and Service wildlife biologists of the Alaska Peninsula/Becharof National Wildlife Refuges during 2010-2011 with the option to extend provided support and assistance up to 60 months. Capture operations will be conducted within Game Management Units 9C, 9E, 9D, and 10.

BACKGROUND

Consistent with the principles of ecosystem management and the laws and policies listed below, effective management of the Refuges is done in close coordination with the State of Alaska. The Department has the primary responsibility for managing resident wildlife populations such as caribou, moose, and wolves. Estimates of population size, composition, and recruitment are fundamental to the Department’s management decisions regarding seasons and bag limits for caribou, moose, and wolves on the Alaska Peninsula. As a major land manager of caribou, moose, and wolf habitat on the Alaska Peninsula and Unimak Island, the Service has an interest in the status of these large mammal populations. Therefore, the staff of the Department and the staffs of the Service at the Alaska Peninsula/Becharof National Wildlife Refuges regularly cooperate on surveys and studies of caribou, moose, and wolf populations. Refuge funding has allowed for the continued monitoring, management, and study of factors affecting the abundance of these populations. The Department has requested the assistance of the Service to accomplish capture and monitoring during 2010-2011.

REASON FOR SINGLE SOURCE:

(1) Continuation – The activity for which this agreement will support is necessary to the continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has the primary responsibility for managing resident wildlife populations such as caribou, moose, and wolves. Consistent with the principles of ecosystem management and the laws and polices listed below, effective management of the Refuges has been done in close coordination with the State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game. The staffs of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Alaska Peninsula/Becharof NWR) regularly cooperate on surveys and studies of the caribou, moose, and wolf populations on the Alaska Peninsula. Refuge funding has allowed for the continued monitoring, management, and study of factors affecting the abundance of these populations.

(2) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability, if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has the primary responsibility for managing caribou, moose, and wolves on the Alaska Peninsula. In addition, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game meets other criteria which preclude competition for this cooperative agreement, including location, property ownership, technical expertise, and support capacity.