Research shows bear complaints are decreasing
For months we have been hearing that human/black bear encounters and complaints are steadily increasing. The new administration in Trenton gave this as a reason to allow the Department of Environmental Protection to hold a bear hunt in December. More than 70 percent of New Jersey citizens are against the hunt, set to run from Dec. 6-11. It will cost the taxpayers $600,000, this at a time when every other state agency is suffering layoffs and serious funding cuts.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Edward Tavss, a professor at Rutgers University, has been made public. He reviewed more than 4,300 reports to reach his conclusions.His research found many of the reports were duplicated -- that is they were counted twice, once by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and again by the Department of Environmental Protection.
In recent years, several police departments also faxed reports of bear sightings and complaints to the Division of Fish and Wildlife to add to the total. When only reports to the Division of Fish and Wildlife are counted, a steady decline in conflicts is shown. This gives us reason to believe education and garbage control are effective, despite the refusal of the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce the black bear feeding ban.
With Dr. Tavss' findings (bear complaints actually decreasing and bear hunting doesn't reduce bear complaints), a rather interesting thing has happened. The Department of Environmental Protection and Division of Fish and Wildlife have released statements saying black bear complaints have fallen. However, no mention has been made of Dr. Tavss' work.
Jean Mollack
Recent research conducted by Dr. Edward Tavss, a professor at Rutgers University, has been made public. He reviewed more than 4,300 reports to reach his conclusions.His research found many of the reports were duplicated -- that is they were counted twice, once by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and again by the Department of Environmental Protection.
In recent years, several police departments also faxed reports of bear sightings and complaints to the Division of Fish and Wildlife to add to the total. When only reports to the Division of Fish and Wildlife are counted, a steady decline in conflicts is shown. This gives us reason to believe education and garbage control are effective, despite the refusal of the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce the black bear feeding ban.
With Dr. Tavss' findings (bear complaints actually decreasing and bear hunting doesn't reduce bear complaints), a rather interesting thing has happened. The Department of Environmental Protection and Division of Fish and Wildlife have released statements saying black bear complaints have fallen. However, no mention has been made of Dr. Tavss' work.
Jean Mollack
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