Dear Neighbors,

As yesterday's Legislative Update indicated, legislators are working on a variety of issues that will affect the quality of life, safety, and economic well-being of Alaskans. One of those issues involves both urban and rural Alaskans – moose.

You likely have heard about the two recent encounters between moose and people in Anchorage. In the first incident, a man felt compelled to shoot a moose that was charging him. In the second incident, a young boy was stomped by a moose, receiving a broken leg. These are not unique incidents. You've also likely heard about the lack of moose in rural areas and the decision by the Board of Game to address that shortage through aerial wolf hunting.

SB 329, “Control of Nuisance Moose” is meant to address both of those problems. The legislation:

• Instructs the Department of Fish and Game to avoid destruction of nuisance moose if the moose can be relocated to a suitable rural habitat.
• Allows the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game to authorize one or more private individuals or groups to relocate nuisance moose to suitable habitat if the commissioner finds that the individual or group is qualified to relocate the moose without undue danger to the public, themselves, or the moose.
• Requires the group(s) relocating the moose to pay the costs incurred by themselves and the department.
• Protects the state against liability.
• Defines “nuisance moose’ as a moose located in an area of concentrated human population that poses a significant risk to the health, safety, or economic well-being of persons in the area.

The Department of Fish & Game and the Alaska Moose Federation worked together to advance the bill. The Senate Resources Committee accepted those changes and moved the Committee Substitute for SB 329 out of committee by a vote of 5-0. As any relocation program that is approved by the Department will have NO COST TO THE STATE, the Senate Finance Committee has waived the bill without a hearing. The next step for the bill is a vote in the Senate.

SB 329 is supported by, among others: The Alaska Moose Federation, Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Board of Game, Anchorage Fish and Game Advisory Council, Municipality of Anchorage, Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage School District, City of Wasilla, Central Kuskokwim Fish and Game Advisory Committee, Alaska Village Initiatives, and the Ninilchik Traditional Council.

If the bill passes, I am hopeful that a relocation program will be designed and approved so that those moose posing a danger to themselves and humans can be relocated to more suitable habitat.

You can read SB 329 and track its progress by going to www.legis.state.ak.us/basis. Just type “SB 329” in the space for the “Bill Root” and then click on the buttons for “Full Text” and “Committee Action with Bill History.” If you have any questions, please do contact me. I’ll be happy to answer them.

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