Alaska

Keeping animals away from planes is a never-ending job at Anchorage’s airport

Published

2 years ago

December 27, 2022

Keeping animals away from planes is a never-ending job at Anchorage’s airport

Considered one of two bull moose walks via close to the Lake Hood airstrip on December 8, 2022. Two bulls had been hazed from the world by USDA Wildlife Companies. (Marc Lester / ADN)

On a transparent day between main December storms in Anchorage, two bull moose strolled leisurely via deep snow on the frozen floor of Lake Hood. As soon as on shore, the animals broke right into a gallop away from Cody Thompson, a wildlife specialist with USDA’s Wildlife Companies.

Thompson fired a paintball rifle towards the bottom, which made light pop noises, aiming to not hit them however to startle them into movement from the close by airstrip, which was closed on the time.

“Typically it really works higher than others,” he stated of the tactic.

Thompson stated the airport space has a resident inhabitants of moose.

“I wouldn’t say that any of the moose we now have listed here are a nuisance. They’re simply making an attempt to do their finest to outlive the winter and typically they wander into our territory,” Thompson stated. “And that’s high quality. We simply get them out as safely as attainable.”

snow, snowstorm, weather, winter — Cody Thompson, a wildlife specialist with USDA’s Wildlife Companies, screens motion of two bull moose close to Lake Hood on December 8, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The Wildlife Companies workforce is a part of the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Animal Plant and Well being Inspection Service, stated Spencer Nelsen, a wildlife biologist who oversees it.

“Our job is simply to assist the planes and the wildlife to maintain from colliding with one another,” Nelsen stated. “When that occurs, loads of occasions it damages the planes. And it’s by no means good for the wildlife. They at all times lose.”

Trudy Wassel, deputy director for Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport, which incorporates Lake Hood, stated the airport contracts with USDA to offer the mitigation.

“They’re very mission-critical to operations right here at this airport,” Wassel stated.

Monitoring wildlife and hazing them from hurt’s approach is figure performed 24 hours a day, seven days every week from spring to fall, Nelsen stated. 5 specialists work with him from April to October. Throughout winter, two wildlife specialists and Nelsen workforce as much as monitor airport property about 10 hours a day.

“In winter, the species we’re most involved with are moose, bald eagles and customary ravens,” Nelsen stated.

Shooing birds is a relentless problem, he stated, and adjustments from yr to yr. A number of years in the past, Nelsen stated, Wildlife Companies relocated greater than 30 short-eared owls from the world. Sandhill cranes is usually a focus some years, whereas different years it’s gulls.

“When this calendar yr ends, we may have hazed over 25,000 birds off the airport,” Nelsen stated.

Wildlife challenges fluctuate from airport to airport across the nation, he stated. Anchorage has distinctive mammal issues. “Nobody else has to take care of moose and only a few must take care of bears the best way we do,” he stated.

Wassel stated she is unaware of any destructive encounter between airport operations and wildlife.

“Security for our clients and the passengers and the airways is primary, however we additionally maintain the animals as nicely,” she stated.

[Previously: Soldotna firefighters rescue moose from basement]

On today, Thompson, working from a pickup truck, adopted the bull moose after they crossed the street towards the airstrip. He drove on the perimeter, startling the moose into crossing towards fencing on the east facet. Thompson then trudged via deep snow to open a gate on the east facet of the airstrip, then used the pop of his paintball gun, and the occasional whistle and thump on his truck door, to induce the bulls towards it.

The low-speed rodeo was profitable. The dual bulls turned to take a look at Thompson as he closed the gate behind him, sealing them from simple airstrip entry.

Thompson plodded via knee-deep snow and caught his breath again at his truck.

“The gate was the best and most secure approach for them to get out. In any other case, they’d be again on the street in entrance of site visitors,” he stated.

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Alaska

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

Published

7 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Alaska Republicans bring in national lawyer, will ask for recount on Ballot Measure 2

The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.

Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.

Of the 340,110 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 160,619 to 159,955, or 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.

“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certiﬁed, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.

The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.

“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”

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Alaska

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

Published

15 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

101-year-old woman shares her birthday reflections with Alaska’s News Source

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Norma Aldefer didn’t expect to turn 100. Now, one day after her 101st birthday, she’s even more surprised.

Inside her pristine apartment, Aldefer’s table is full of cards wishing her a happy birthday. She points out a favorite, which reads “You’re how old?”

Celebratory messages from loved ones, along with congratulations from state officials Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy. Aldefer said last year’s centennial birthday even brought in regards from President Joe Biden.

Aldefer moved to Alaska to marry her husband, who was originally from her hometown. The photograph she has at her side is of her as a younger woman posing with her mother in 1948.

Norma and her parents pose “all dressed up” for family photos.(Olivia Nordyke)

“We took pictures of ourselves and and I’m all dressed up in high heels and a hat and a purse. And my little bag that I was carrying.” Aldefer said she was scared leaving the small farm she grew up on, but by working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, she expanded her horizons.

Multiple times Aldefer stated she’s remained curious all her years. She said it’s the reason she’s been able to maintain herself rather than losing her faculties, and believes it’s the way to feel fulfilled.

“Sometimes people get into things they don’t enjoy, but they think, ‘Oh, I have to make a living.’ Don’t do that. If you’re not comfortable, go do something else,” Aldefer said.

“May not make a good living for a while, but you might enjoy life.”

Aldefer says she still enjoys life, and continues to enjoy a nightly martini alongside cheese and crackers before she begins to cook dinner.

Over the course of the interview, she marveled at her gratitude for her world – calling herself blessed.

“I know I’m not going to be here much probably much longer, but I’ve had such a good life, you know. I’m not afraid of it.”

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