LARGE BLOCKS OF HABlTAT ARE IMPORTANT.
Large blocks of publicly owned habitat, kept relatively free of human
development, can help to maintain our current moose numbers. These
include not only state critical habitat areas and game refuges, which
are managed expressly for their wildlife values, but also parks,
recreational areas, and forests.
REGlONAL AND LOCAL PLANNlNG BENEFlTS W1LDLIFE.
When planning local and regional expansion and resource development,
we should incorporate wildlife values. Comprehensive plans and zoning
laws should identify and address the needs of moose and other wildlife.
MlTlGATlON FOR LOST HABlTAT SHOULD BE A PART OF ALL STATE AND FEDERAL
PROJECTS.
Plans for roads, airports, and recreational sites should also be
reviewed to determine their effects on wildlife. If wildlife habitat is
destroyed, and wildlife numbers diminished, mitigating measures should
be taken. A dollar value should be placed on the lost wildlife and a
like amount should be spent to enhance or protect wildlife populations
close to the area where the damage occurred. When the Bradley Lake
Hydroelectric Project was built near Homer, it was determined that a
certain amount of moose habitat would be lost due to increasing the size
of Bradley Lake. A monetary value was placed on this public loss and
used to purchase and protect threatened moose habitat in the Homer area.
WE CAN PLAN FOR lNCREASED BACKCOUNTRY USE.
By promoting, planning, and educating for wise ATV, snowmachine, and
skiing use, we can help moose and other wildlife.
We can design trails away from sensitive areas. When prime wildlife
habitat must be traversed, we can suggest viewing distances that do not
alarm wildlife.
Because snowmachines can also harm vegetation if snow depths are not
adequate, we can require minimum snow depths for use.
We can encourage public involvement in deep-snow years by asking
snowmachine clubs to make trails between feeding areas for hungry moose.
This has been done quite effectively on the Kenai Peninsula.
WE CAN SELECTIVELY ENHANCE MOOSE HABITAT.
We can support agency efforts to enhance moose habitat. Burning and
crushing areas of mature forest habitat is beneficial to moose and other
species of wildlife.
We can provide winter browse by planting willow, birch, and aspen. |
