Trending Now - Judge Approves Aerial Bear Culling to Safeguard Caribou in Alaska
WHO:
CBS News - Alaska wildlife agents are involved in the decision to kill bears.
ABC News - A judge is overseeing the approval of the bear culling plan.
WHAT:
NBC News - A judge ruled that Alaska wildlife agents can resume shooting and killing black and brown bears, including from helicopters, as part of a plan to help recover the caribou herd.
NBC News - The state killed 180 bears from 2023 to 2024, most of them brown bears, plus 11 more last year.
NBC News - The caribou population was estimated at around 16,280 last year, an increase from approximately 13,000 in 2019.
CBS News - A judge has approved the resumption of shooting and killing bears from helicopters.
ABC News - The bear culling is part of a plan to help recover the Mulchatna caribou herd.
WHERE:
CBS News - The events are taking place in Alaska, specifically concerning the Mulchatna caribou herd.
WHEN:
CBS News - The Mulchatna caribou herd is expected to begin calving soon.
WHY:
NBC News - State officials view the bear-killing program as crucial for the recovery of the caribou herd, which once provided up to about 4,770 caribou a year for subsistence hunters.
ABC News - The bear culling is intended to protect the caribou, which were once an important food source for Alaska Native hunters.
HOW:
NBC News - The Alaska Department of Law stated that officials took a “hard look” at factors related to bear numbers in adopting the bear culling plan.
CBS News - Bears can be killed from the air to safeguard the caribou.
(UPDATED May 7, 2026 13:30 UTC)
A judge has ruled that Alaska wildlife agents can resume shooting and killing black and brown bears, including from helicopters, as part of a strategy to help recover the caribou herd. State officials believe this bear-killing program is essential for the caribou population, which was estimated at around 16,280 last year, a significant increase from approximately 13,000 in 2019, and once provided nearly 4,770 caribou annually for subsistence hunters. From 2023 to 2024, the state killed 180 bears, mostly brown bears, along with 11 additional bears last year, after officials conducted a thorough review of bear population factors to support this culling plan.
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(UPDATED May 7, 2026 11:39 UTC)
In Alaska, a judge has approved a controversial plan that allows wildlife agents to resume shooting bears from helicopters as part of efforts to protect the Mulchatna caribou herd. This bear culling is intended to aid in the recovery of the caribou, which has historically been a vital food source for Alaska Native hunters. With the caribou expected to begin calving soon, the decision aims to ensure their safety by reducing the bear population in the area.