Alaska Llamas Blog

In April 2020, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a proposal to prohibit the use of pack llamas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as part of a proposed regulation package. The rationale for this ban was based on a perceived camelid "disease risk" which is not supported by science. (For background on the proposal go to this blog post - USFWS Attempting to Ban Pack Llamas in ANWR ) The llama user group made extensive comments during the open pubic comment period which closed June 8, 2020 and also participated in a public meeting held via teleconference due to the pandemic.  Public comment and public testimony clearly demonstrated the USFWS camelid "disease risk" hypothesis was indefensible. Furthermore multiple procedural violations by USFWS were noted. (Go to this link for more on procedural violations -  NEPA Violations ) The USFWS ignored science and came out with a final rule effective August 31, 2020 which prohibits/bans use of

(Excerpt from comment to USFWS by Phil Nuechterlein) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing a regulatory addition to 50 CFR § 36.39 (k) Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) stating that all domestic camelids are prohibited. USFWS concerns that camelids present a disease risk to wildlife in ANWR are clearly misguided and lack scientific evidence. The USFWS proposal to ban pack llamas unfairly eliminates a user group based on the false and misleading portrayal of pack llamas as a "disease threat" to wildlife. Although we have never packed for profit, the USFWS policy implicating pack llamas as a disease threat unnecessarily harms all of us that use pack llamas, including commercial llama packing enterprises in the lower 48 states. Rumor mongering knows no regional boundaries. The references cited by the USFWS as a basis for this proposed camelid prohibition in ANWR are not credible nor have they been peer reviewed. These same references have been evalua

Why I Like this Hike:  With easy access right off the Glenn Highway, the improved two mile trail around Reflections Lake is more of a walk than a hike suitable for all skill levels making it an excellent choice for families with young children or those with physical disabilities. This hike which borders wetlands with a wildlife viewing tower can be done in all seasons. How to Get There:  Reflections Lake is located at the Knik River Access ramp just north of Palmer on the Glenn Highway.  Google Map - Reflections Lake When I stopped there recently, I was pleasantly surprised to see improvements made to the trail around the lake - bridges, interpretive signs and even a viewing tower. Reflections Lake was originally a gravel pit used for construction of the Glenn Highway. Through the years it became an informal shooting range and repository for abandoned vehicles and junk appliances. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation conducted a cleanup of the mostly lead contamination