To: Tony Gorn, Wildlife Biologist III

Find workable solutions for the Musk-Ox that are continually harassing our people and killing our...

Find a workable solution to the Musk-Ox that are continually harassing Nome's community and animals.

Why is this important?

Since as long ago as 2005 the Musk-Ox have been coming into Nome's small community and not only becoming a nuisance & danger to the public, but harming our dogs that are secured on chains or in pens as well. Some incidences have resulted in severe injuries or death to the dogs.

This threat to individual dogs and the mushing community has got to stop. We need to find workable solutions to the problem. Recently a Musk-Ox was killed as it threatened a community member’s dog. As it happened, a herd of musk ox had invaded Icy View and had dispersed into several people’s yards. Authorities have told us to "walk" the herds out of our areas; she tried doing this but to no avail. She yelled at them to get them to leave; she also fired a warning shot but they did not budge. She had already lost one dog to horrific goring and a painful death; she was not about to lose another. She did everything she should have before resorting to a weapon. As the Musk-Ox were fleeing her yard, one of them saw her dog and ran straight to it. It then proceeded to lower its head in what she viewed as an attempt to ram her pen to get to her dog. She called 911 before she shot the musk ox. Immediately after, she did the proper thing by notifying authorities that she had shot the musk ox. The musk ox was then processed by the help of community members and given to the senior center.

Yet, wildlife authorities determined that she committed a crime by killing the Musk-Ox.

This is nonsense and has got to stop. She should not have been charged with any crime; we have the right to protect our families of which dogs are a part, and we have the right to protect our property.

Enough dogs have been injured and killed; we do not want children or any person to endure an attack, when a change WILL be made. Let’s do it before that happens.

Help us change this situation and encourage The Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, in Nome and Juneau Alaska, to find workable solutions to this ongoing problem by signing our petition.