About McNeil River Sanctuary
Who we are
Friends of McNeil River is a diverse bunch - doctors, dentists, lawyers, writers, photographers, biologists, guides, teachers, pilots, and just plain outdoor enthusiasts. They all have something in common: they are concerned about the welfare of Alaska's world famous McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and its magnificent Brown Bears.
Our Purpose
Friends of McNeil River's primary purpose is the preservation of the sanctuary's bears and their habitat and to have a voice in its future.
Photo
Copyright Scott McGee
|
McNeil is special to them because most have been privileged
to walk among the "people neutral" bears that make it so
unique. Each person who visits comes away with a new
understanding of brown bears. They know that McNeil River
sanctuary has done more to educate the world about brown bears
than any other single thing - it is a gift and a treasure
beyond value.
In our ever shrinking world, even the wildest places need
protection from the heavy hand of man. As remote as McNeil
River seems, it is not free from the threat of development,
habitat destruction, well-meaning but poorly designed
"enhancement" projects, and noise pollution. Friends of McNeil
River was formed to address some of these problems.
Its primary purpose is the preservation of the
sanctuary's bears and their habitat. We would also like to
have a voice in its future.
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary is an outgrowth of
conservation efforts that began in 1955 when part of the
drainage was closed to bear hunting. The closure was deemed
necessary to protect extraordinary concentrations of coastal
brown bears that gathered at McNeil Falls to feed on salmon.
Twelve years later, the State of Alaska further protected the
area by designating it sanctuary.
Photo
Copyright Mel
Leskinen
|
In the early 1970's, the area's fame had grown. Heavy
visitation spurred managers to institute a controlled access
system in 1973. Based on special permits awarded by lottery,
the system limits the number of visitors to ten a day during
June, July and August, the peak of seasonal bear activity.
Before the controlled permit system was in place, the
number of bears fishing at NcNeil Falls had declined. Since
1973, the number of bears using the area has increased
steadily. Now more than 100 bears may visit the falls daily
during peak season, with more than 60 bears in sight at one
time.
During the past two decades, the bears of McNeil River have
learned to tolerate the close presence of humans. Their
accepting nature has allowed many visitors a special look at
the life of Alaska's great bear, and given them insight in to
bear behavior.
| History of Friends
of McNeil River
(FOMR) |
Friends of McNeil River formed in 1989 when it became known
that a fish ladder was planned for construction in the Paint
River area, just 3 miles from McNeil Falls. This fish ladder
would put all five species of salmon into a river system that
until then had been sterile. To maintain this salmon run would
require that more than 500,000 salmon be allowed into the
Paint River to spawn and die. Since the McNeil Rivers
escapement was only 40-50,000 fish it was feared that the
bears would be drawn away from McNeil Falls and be in the
Paint River system during bear hunting season.
Friends found that the analysis of the fish ladder had not
addressed impacts to the bears at McNeil and a law suit was
filed. The law suit increased public awareness of the concerns
and led to legislation that expanded the McNeil River State
Game Sanctuary and established a 160,000 acre McNeil River
State Game Refuge. Unfortunately, the legislation did not
close the refuge to hunting, leaving that decision to the
Board of Game.
Photo
Copyright Mel
Leskinen
|
From 1990 to 1994 Friends lobbied the Board to close the
area to hunting. Because of these efforts and the public
concern that hunting pressures were increasing and that bears
were being over hunted, the Board established a permit system
to control hunting pressure. They directed the Department of
Fish and Game to issue permits adequate to allow three bears a
year to be taken from the hunting unity that contained the
Refuge.
The first drawing for permits to hunt the area was
scheduled for 1995, with permits issued for Fall 1995 and
Spring 1996. Friends decided to ask supporters of the McNeil
River bears to apply for the permits and if drawn, just stay
home. More than 12,000 newsletters describing this "flood the
hunt campaign" were sent out and various other groups
announced it in their newsletters.
CBS News, correspondent John Blackstone, became aware of
the issue and came to Alaska to investigate. He developed an
EYE ON AMERICA special for Dan Rather showing how the group,
led by a hunter, had recognized the special value of these
bears and were conducting the campaign.
The campaign was very successful, with more than 2,000
people applying for the hunt that normally would have
generated only 50-100 applicants. Friends supporters obtained
six of the eight permits issued in the drawing and John
Blackstone produced a second piece for EYE ON AMERICA.
Friends continued their lobbying to the Board of Game by
submitting proposals to close bear hunting which were reviewed
during the October 1995 and March 1996 Board of Game meetings.
Members and supporters flooded the Board with requests to
close the area to hunting and by a four to three vote, the
area was closed to hunting at the October 1995 meeting.
