In the October 1993 issue of Dog Fancy, Betsy Sikora Siino wrote an article on Alaska's wolf population. I thought it might be of interest to you and your environmentally aware readers.

Remember how Alaska wanted to kill many of its wolves to improve caribou herds for hunters and tourists, but it then rescinded the proposal after mass protest and threats to its tourist industry? In June, after most people's travel plans to Alaska were locked in, Alaska reinstated the plan and it was hastily approved by Alaska's Board of Game with the help of the United States House of Representatives.

With help from the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, which is a 158-member organization made up of congressmen who are in favor of weakening the Endangered Species Act, lifting the ban on hunting in national parks and controlling Alaska's wolf population through mass killing. Some of the plan's provisions include: A reinstatement of wolf hunting in other areas of the state, an extension of wolf-trapping season and the refusal of a 10-mile no-hunting zone around Denali National Park.

There is still time for concerned citizens to let Alaska and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus know how we feel about their plan, and save some wolves. House of Representatives Bill HR-1391 strengthens the federal Airborne Hunting Act. Write to your congress people and tell them you support this bill. Ask them if they are members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and tell them what you think of them and their selfish actions.

You can write to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit at 1849 C St. N.W., Washington D.C. 20240 -- tell them how you feel about Alaska not keeping it's promise and violating the Airborne Hunting Act. Let Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel, P.O. Box 110001, Juneau, AK 998811-0001, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Director David Kellyhouse, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802-5526, and Alaska Director of Tourism Conn Murrey, P.O. Box 110801, Juneau, AK 99811-0801, know how you feel.

Concerned citizens stopped this slaughter once, we can do it again.