https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/02/letter_new_jersey_finds_more_reasons_to_allow_bear.html&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjU3MWM2ZjllNzE1ZmRjZDg6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGKhb04ck1WKdzpDYEf80y-jFxEHw
Since the late 1980s, the DFW attempted to justify bear hunts for decreasing the population to keep the public safe and lower nuisance complaints.
If nuisance complaints actually correlate with population, the DFW has failed miserably, considering the bear population decreased while nuisance complaints increased.
With recent media reports of bear-hunter incidents, I wonder if this is an attempt to depict bears as becoming more aggressive. Since another DFW premise for bear hunting is that bears will become more wary of humans, it would represent another way for the DFW to meet its goals through hunting.
Hunters culled 272 bears from North Jersey’s forests during the state’s six-day firearm deer and bear hunting season. The total was 21 greater than that of the 2013 hunt, falling in line with predictions from state biologists of a similar harvest this year.
The hunt started quickly, with 189 kills – the largest one-day cull since the first day of the 2011 hunt. However, last Tuesday’s nor’easter helped stymie the pace to below that of 2013’s by mid-week. Ultimately, though, the six-day total surpassed the 251 black bears killed by hunters last December.
In concert with university scientists, further work will be done next year by the DEP’s Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists to reassess the black bear population in North Jersey, and to begin to develop a black bear population model for other parts of the state. Black bears have been observed in all 21 counties in New Jersey, with some prominent sightings of black bears in Central and South Jersey last spring, but the number of bears living outside of the northwestern portion of the state remains low, with no population estimate currently available.
Black bear hunting is taking place this week within a 1,000-square-mile area north of Route 78 and west of Route 287. It is complemented by black bear hunts that occur each autumn in neighboring Pennsylvania and New York, where 3,510 and 1,358 bears respectively were taken by hunters in 2013. Bears living in North Jersey also traverse parts of those neighboring states.
It is expected that by Monday morning, more than 7,000 bear hunting permits will have been obtained by licensed hunters from New Jersey and other states for this year’s hunt. A maximum of 10,000 permits will be allocated.
For information on New Jersey’s 2014 black bear hunt, including bear permit availability, and information on the 2003, 2005 and 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 bear harvest results, visit:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearseason_info.htm
For the state’s Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm
Letter: New Jersey finds more reasons to allow bear hunting
Despite admitting that it does not have a current estimate of the bear population, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife proposed further bear reduction by adding bow hunting and additional bear hunting zones. So much for scientific management.
Since the late 1980s, the DFW attempted to justify bear hunts for decreasing the population to keep the public safe and lower nuisance complaints.
Now, despite five consecutive years of bear hunts and population reduction, there was a 35 percent increase in bear-related nuisance calls, 2,743 in 2014 vs. 1,792 in 2013.
If nuisance complaints actually correlate with population, the DFW has failed miserably, considering the bear population decreased while nuisance complaints increased.
With recent media reports of bear-hunter incidents, I wonder if this is an attempt to depict bears as becoming more aggressive. Since another DFW premise for bear hunting is that bears will become more wary of humans, it would represent another way for the DFW to meet its goals through hunting.
Black Bears Have Been Sighted
In All 21 Counties
In All 21 Counties
Unfortunately, New Jersey government often rewards agency failures with continued opportunities to do more of the same.
Thankfully, activists for the protection of bears and game animals can demonstrate not only DFW long-term and ongoing failures, but also expose what appears to be its covert mission for increased recreational hunting opportunities.
-- Janet Piszar,
Chatham
The writer is founder of Public Trust Wildlife Management.
Chatham
The writer is founder of Public Trust Wildlife Management.
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North Jersey’s 2014 bear hunt culls slightly more than last year's hunt
Hunters culled 272 bears from North Jersey’s forests during the state’s six-day firearm deer and bear hunting season. The total was 21 greater than that of the 2013 hunt, falling in line with predictions from state biologists of a similar harvest this year.
The hunt started quickly, with 189 kills – the largest one-day cull since the first day of the 2011 hunt. However, last Tuesday’s nor’easter helped stymie the pace to below that of 2013’s by mid-week. Ultimately, though, the six-day total surpassed the 251 black bears killed by hunters last December.
Prior to the hunt, North Jersey’s bear population was pegged somewhere between 2,200 to 2,500 bears in the four bear hunting zones north of Route 78 and west of Interstate 287.
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The DEP’s comprehensive approach, which was formally established in 2010 by the state’s Fish and Game Council, has been gradually reducing the estimated number of black bears living in North Jersey, which has a robust black bear population. Scientifically calculated and conservative estimates show approximately 2,200 to 2,500 black bears living in the hunting area north of Route 78 and west of Route 287. That is down from an estimated 3,400 bears in 2010.In concert with university scientists, further work will be done next year by the DEP’s Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists to reassess the black bear population in North Jersey, and to begin to develop a black bear population model for other parts of the state. Black bears have been observed in all 21 counties in New Jersey, with some prominent sightings of black bears in Central and South Jersey last spring, but the number of bears living outside of the northwestern portion of the state remains low, with no population estimate currently available.
Black bear hunting is taking place this week within a 1,000-square-mile area north of Route 78 and west of Route 287. It is complemented by black bear hunts that occur each autumn in neighboring Pennsylvania and New York, where 3,510 and 1,358 bears respectively were taken by hunters in 2013. Bears living in North Jersey also traverse parts of those neighboring states.
It is expected that by Monday morning, more than 7,000 bear hunting permits will have been obtained by licensed hunters from New Jersey and other states for this year’s hunt. A maximum of 10,000 permits will be allocated.
For information on New Jersey’s 2014 black bear hunt, including bear permit availability, and information on the 2003, 2005 and 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 bear harvest results, visit:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearseason_info.htm
For the state’s Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm
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