Homer, Alaska — The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on its recently
completed Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) of Caribou Control on Kagalaska Island,
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. This Assessment analyzes the consequences of two
alternatives: the proposed action to control invasive caribou on Kagalaska Island to prevent
damage to the native ecosystems and a no action alternative.

Kagalaska is a federally designated wilderness island within Alaska Maritime National Wildlife
Refuge, adjacent to Adak. Both islands were historically free of caribou, but the U.S. had a
military base on Adak and caribou were introduced there, in part, to provide recreational
opportunities for military personnel. In 1997, the base was closed and the human population
dwindled to 325, but the caribou remain.

Today, Adak has liberal caribou hunting regulations with no closed season, and over the last five
years, an average of 278 caribou have been harvested annually. With no other natural predators
on Adak, the caribou population has grown to several thousand animals. Caribou from Adak’s
large population have begun invading new territory, swimming across the narrow strait to
Kagalaska Island.

Beginning in 2015, under the proposed action, refuge staff, volunteers or contractors would
periodically visit Kagalaska Island to eliminate any caribou seen on the island to prevent a new
herd from forming. If caribou were to become established, they could alter vegetation, cause
erosion, harm the wilderness character of the island, and threaten the native wildlife. In addition,
the caribou could disperse to other refuge islands east of Kagalaska and removal could become
very expensive or nearly impossible. The Service believes that caribou control would help to
maintain the natural character of the island.

The DEA describes and evaluates the project and the associated environmental impacts of each
alternative considered. The DEA also identifies the authorities under which the Service may take
action to control caribou on the island. The Service is accepting comments on the DEA until
October 29, 2014. The full text of the DEA is available at:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alaska_maritime/KagalaskaEA.html

You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Email: FW7_Kagalaska@fws.gov2
U.S. Mail or hand delivery:
Steve Delehanty, Refuge Manager
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
95 Sterling Hwy #1
Homer, AK 99603
Fax: 907-235-7783

  adak, caribou, culling, fish and wildlife, hunting, invasive, island, kagalaska