STATE GAME BIOLOGIST, TOM 0'FARRELL, VISITS ADAK IN
CONNECTION WITH POSSIBLE TRANSPLANTATION OF HARE TO
ISLAND FOR RECREATIONAL HUNTING—MARINE BARRACKS HOST
Marine Barracks was Lost to Mr.Th.omas O'Farrell, a
biologist from Anchorage who works with the Department
of Game for the State of Alaska. His purpose for vis
iting Adak was in line with a project to see if it is V
possible to transplant small game here that could be har- 1; [/
vested in the near future■*—hare/rabbits in particular.
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The problems of transplantation are multiple; details(k
and groundwork even more so. What kind of hare could sur-^
vive on Adak? Is the flora on the Island sufficient to }4
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support any hare or rabbit species? Can they multiply well
up here? Where do we get them from? Is there interest to 'v'7
warrant the trouble and expense? Well, Mr. O’Farrell'came up with some preliminary
answers & will report his findings to the District Fish& Game Management Chief. The
flora of the Island will support certain breeds of hare/rabbit; the Arctic Hare for
one. But it is a slow multiplier; being sparce even in its native habitat. Das absence
of trees and shrubs on Adak eliminate the Snowshoe Hare, which would have been eas
ier to obtain. The Belgian Rabbit could also survive & is available in considerable
numbers on Middleton Island in Prince William Sound. The whole idea of the project
is to supply sportsmen with hunting activity in the reasonable future. Certain num
bers of caribou transplanted here in '58& '59 are surviving and growing but it will
be many years before the herd population expands to a point where a har ve stable crop
may be taken. Hunters want recreational shooting before then. Thehare/rabbit proj
ect fills the bill. If details are worked out and Command interest is high enough,
other projects may be started—possibly renewed stocking of fresh waters using the
new hatchery built by LCDR COLE and Company on Lake Andrew.
Mr. O'Farrell spent a “busy 2 days on the Island, examining plaatgrowth, planning
and detailing,& taking a check on caribou population (Mr, 0'Farrell, CO of Marine Bks
and eit>ht Marines took off Saturday 10 June for a full day of scaring & numbering
caribou). For the past year, he has traveled in Alaska (nearly the ent i re Kenai pen
insula and a large part of the Mainland, This was his first trip out the Chain how
P ever) doiog just such biolotoical work and start lag & surveying projects & collecting
data. He holds a Masters debree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alaska,
and contemplates heading for Tennessee University to'^ain his PhD. His visit cleared
the way for several other biologists to enter Adak and make definite decisions on
future courses of action (probably next month),
A fcreat part of operation of the Fish and Cane Department depends on funds alloc
ated by the Federal Government from a fund supplied by the tax on sale of ammunition,
(Pittman-Robertson Act). It is distributed {$3 from the Federal Government to every
$1 the state puts up) according to the number of hunting & fishing licenses sold in
that particular state and the area of the state. From this, you can see that it is
mainly the support of the people that dictates the amount of money given to wildlife
activities. More important, it is the support and interest of the people (espec
ially in a small community-type command like Adak) that keeps projects going en
courages the Fish and Game people to introduce better recreational hunting. Maybe
you don't consider hunting or fishing as the one activity above all others, possibly
you don’t even like the outdoors; but it is still your duty (and privilege) to obey
any and all fishing, huntinto, and nature conservation laws and to report violations.
Harvesting wildlife is not a ribht, but a privilege extended by the State in which
you pursue your sport. The Naval Station is on the verge of a profitable venture
with the State of Alaska Fish and Game Department and we should all cooperate in
the effort of bettering the Island.
"MARINE BARRACKS, ADAK, ALASKA"