PAWS of Nome

Full Title: Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park & Wildlife Barrier Fencing Program

Over the past ten years, PAWS of Nome has become known for our support programs throughout the Bering Strait Region of Alaska. PAWS has rescued an average of 500 animals a year, provided send-out service for veterinary care and free access to spay/neuters and vaccines, as well as provided supplies like dog houses, food, and straw. But before we branched out to regional rescue and support programs, we were just a handful of volunteers taking on the issues left by the vacancy in Nome's Animal Control Department - predominantly the issues caused by muskox/dog conflicts.

As the presence of muskox in Nome has grown over the years, numerous pets have been gored, many fatally, by muskox. Most of these dogs were tied up when muskox came through the area. Many of these incidents involved multiple dogs at a sled dog kennel, after muskox came through partial enclosures and then became trapped. Other times, dogs were chased and attacked when let loose out of homes – their owners unaware muskox were in the yard. This past winter, the issue escalated significantly when a beloved community member, Curtis Worland, was killed by a muskox while trying to push a group of them away from his dog yard by snowmachine.

There has never been a designated, safe space for residents to exercise their dogs in Nome - away from the dangers of traffic, stray dogs, and wildlife. Yet it continues to grow into a constant issue, year-round, pervading private property as well as the tundra we like to frequent with our families.

We are hoping that with partnerships throughout the state, we can now offer a path forward where we can be more proactive, than reactive in ensuring our pets – and ourselves - are safe from muskox. Muskox are not going away, and efforts to deter them from areas close to town have proven ineffective. We believe the common-sense solution to keeping pets safe is to create fenced-in areas where muskox and other wildlife are kept out.

Our fundraising will focus on two solutions for providing protection against muskox where people or pets are present:

1. The Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park

A designated area where users can bring their pets to exercise on canine play equipment and tundra trails that has a completely fenced and patrolled perimeter. This area keeps participants safe from traffic, strays, and wildlife that may wander into City limits, and keeps those energetic pets in. Located within Nome City Limits, the Bark Park is just a few minutes from central neighborhoods, and will provide a large area for pets to run, play, and socialize in safety. Visit www.raar-nome.com/thebarkpark over the coming months for details.

2. The Wildlife Barrier Fencing Program

A program where dog owners in Nome will have free access to fencing material and resources to adequately establish a fenced-in yard on their property for their dog(s). Applicants will be awarded fencing based on the number of dogs they own, as well as the prevalence of muskox in the area, and their history of muskox/dog conflict. We will use high-tensile wildlife barrier fencing (8’ woven wire) from Alaska Farm Supply, with thaw pipes for fence posts, pounded 3’ or deeper. All fences will have working and muskox-proof gates. This program will stockpile fencing materials to have on hand, and volunteers have been secured to install the materials on site as needed.

Let’s come together with a permanent solution for keeping our pets, and each other, safe from muskox. Thank you so much for your support!