ABSTRACT
Wilderness is good for wildlife. Both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have recommended against wilderness on several occasions because of purported wildlife concerns. During debate over the Alaska Lands bill, wildlife concerns were a recurring reason for eliminating many potential wilderness areas in Alaska. Most state fish and game agencies have taken a firm, forthright, unequivocal neutral stance on the wilderness-wildlife question. The problem for state fish and game agencies is that within wilderness, intensive management to produce a maximum number of game animals isn't possible. Many types of animals require young plant communities that can be supplied only by the demise of mature plant associations. This can be done by 'natural' wildfire, insects, disease or wind, or, it can be done by man with timber cutting or prescribed fire. For the most part, Defenders of Wildlife feels active wildlife management should be kept to a minimum in designated wilderness.
