Margaret Murie continued Olaus Murie’s conservation works after his death, from her home at the ranch. She wrote letters and articles, made speeches, and contributed to the conservation legislation at congressional hearings. She also underlined certain development projects in the Alaskan region that could potentially harm the wildlife there.
One example is the long-standing debate which started in the 1970s on oil drilling in the coastal plains of the Arctic Refuge, an area for local caribou to birth their offspring.
Herd of caribou, 6 June 2013. Source: Earth Rangers.
Essentially, oil drilling companies claimed that the drilling technology available was able to prevent damage to the environment and wildlife, and the oil collection could lower oil prices in the U.S. However, conservationists emphasized on the risks of drilling and oil spills on the endangerment of the species in that area. This controversy remains to be settled.
Margaret also aided the National Park Service by scouting for potential areas in Alaska that they could adopt. She also contributed towards the passing of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), approved by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. This Act helped to set aside 104 million acres of land in Alaska, as well as double the size of the Arctic Refuge. First introduced in 1977, the ANILCA protects over 100 million acres of federally-owned lands in Alaska, and has been considered “the most significant land conservation measure” in the U.S.