JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Native tribal governments and other communities have submitted emergency requests to hunt out of season as the coronavirus pandemic causes food supply concerns.

Alaskan broadcast news program Energy Desk reported that at least six small localities across the state have been waiting nearly two months for responses to their applications for special hunting permission.

The U.S. Office of Subsistence Management is fielding multiple requests and expected to address the issue at an upcoming meeting this month.

The agency responds to emergency hunting actions on federal lands, while the state of Alaska has its own process to handle requests for actions on state lands.