Alaska Judge Lets Aerial Bear-Killing Program Resume To Aid Caribou Herd
Judge Adolf Zeman on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, rejected conservation groups' bid to block Alaska's Mulchatna predator-control plan, clearing the way for aerial killing of black and brown bears during the caribou calving season.
The ruling lets Alaska Department of Fish and Game agents resume aerial shootings this calving season to protect the herd. State records show 180 bears were killed between 2023 and 2024, plus 11 more in 2025. The records also say agents killed 99 bears and 20 cubs from the air in less than a month during spring 2023.
The episode traces back to a decades-long collapse of the Mulchatna caribou herd, which fell from around 190,000 at its peak to about 13,000 by 2019 and an estimated 16,280 by 2025. After calf survival fell and hunting closed in 2021, the Alaska Board of Game in January 2022 authorized an intensive program letting agents kill predators from aircraft. The program began in spring 2023, prompting lawsuits in August 2023 and a court ruling that overturned the plan in March 2025. After the Board reauthorized a similar plan in July 2025, conservation groups including the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a new challenge in November 2025.
State wildlife officials say bear removals are helping the herd recover, while conservation groups counter that the state lacks key data on bear populations and sustainability. The herd increased about 30.1% from 2023 to 2025 to an estimated 16,276 animals, a trend state officials cite as evidence the removals are working.
Predation by bears and wolves has been identified as a significant factor in the decline of the Mulchatna caribou herd, with studies indicating that these predators accounted for 89% of calf mortality in the early weeks of life from 2011 to 2015. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported that following the removal of 94 brown bears in spring 2023, the calf-to-cow ratio improved to 44 calves per 100 cows, the highest since 1999. This data supports the state's assertion that the predator control program is effective in aiding the recovery of the caribou population, which increased by 30.1% from 2023 to 2025, reaching an estimated 16,276 animals.
Social media reactions reflect a polarized view on the issue. While some users, like @Propgandareport, argue in favor of the program, citing the necessity of managing bear populations to protect vulnerable caribou calves, others, including @Fairwinds10 and @Snideroregon, condemn the aerial killing as unethical and driven by ulterior motives related to hunting interests. This division highlights the ongoing tension between wildlife management strategies aimed at recovery and the ethical considerations surrounding predator control in Alaska's unique ecosystem.
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📊 Relevant Data
Predation by bears and wolves accounted for 89% of Mulchatna caribou calf mortality in the first two weeks of life, with bears responsible for 46% and wolves for 43%. ([Alaska Department of Fish and Game](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/web/nocache/research/programs/intensivemanagement/pdfs/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdfCEA33C0A0150C98A89A5CF21B4045C00/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdf))
Review of factors in public and agency predator control for Mulchatna caribou — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Following lethal removal of 94 brown bears in the western calving grounds in spring 2023, the fall 2023 calf-to-cow ratio improved to 44 calves per 100 cows, the highest recorded since 1999. ([Alaska Department of Fish and Game](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/web/nocache/research/programs/intensivemanagement/pdfs/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdfCEA33C0A0150C98A89A5CF21B4045C00/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdf))
Review of factors in public and agency predator control for Mulchatna caribou — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
The Mulchatna caribou herd population increased by 30.1% from 2023 to 2025, reaching an estimated 16,276 animals, coinciding with the start of intensive predator management. ([Alaska Department of Fish and Game](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/caribouhunting/pdfs/mch-newsletter-2025-fall-update.pdf))
Mulchatna Caribou Herd News: Fall Update 2025 — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Brucellosis antibody prevalence exceeded 35% in adult female Mulchatna caribou in 2020, potentially reducing fitness and contributing to the herd's decline. ([Alaska Department of Fish and Game](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/web/nocache/research/programs/intensivemanagement/pdfs/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdfCEA33C0A0150C98A89A5CF21B4045C00/paragi_landsiedel_mulchatna_caribou_review_wmr_22nov2023.pdf))
Review of factors in public and agency predator control for Mulchatna caribou — Alaska Department of Fish and Game
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Judge Adolf Zeman rejected conservation groups' bid for a preliminary injunction against Alaska's Mulchatna caribou predator-control plan.
- The ruling allows Alaska Department of Fish and Game agents to continue aerial shooting of black and brown bears during the 2026 calving season.
- The Mulchatna caribou herd declined from around 190,000 animals at its peak to about 13,000 in 2019 and an estimated 16,280 in 2025; hunting has been closed since 2021.
- State records cited in the lawsuit say 180 bears were killed between 2023 and 2024 under the program, plus 11 more in 2025, including 99 bears and 20 cubs killed from the air in less than a month in 2023.
- Alaska wildlife officials argue bear removals are aiding herd recovery, while conservation groups say the state lacks key data on bear populations and sustainability.
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