The long overdue and much needed black bear hunt is just weeks away but it has been a long journey.
Starting in 2000 then Governor Christi Whitman yielded to pressure from anti-hunting/animal-right groups, dissed the experts of the NJDF&W and cancelled the planned hunt for that year. This decision inflated the political football that would be passed about for years to:
Governor Mc Greevey, Acting Governor Codey, Governor Corzine and now Governor Christie.
Ironic, from a “Christi” stopping the hunt to a “Christie” supporting a hunt.
What is the difference? Governor Christie made it clear, prior to being elected, that he was not playing politics with issues concerning wildlife management. Knowing this the anti-hunting/animal right groups used all of their resources to push for his defeat by Governor Corzine, THEY FAILED. Governor Christie is neither anti, nor pro, black bear hunting; he is pro support of the trained experts and professionals of the NJDF&W/F&G. Governor Christie respects the emotions of those that love animals and do not support hunting however; the Governor understands that emotions are not part of the equation in wildlife management.
The Bear Group, organized back in the beginning of this journey, was able to reach the past Governors. The deception they used was publicized by many well-known anti-hunting newspapers. The Bear Group locates so-called experts, bringing some to N.J and the good ole anti-hunting newspapers give them front page coverage without checking credentials or facts.
Examples:
Steve Searles: Mammoth Lakes resort area, California. (25.2) square miles. The town had a black bear problem and since Searles was a then known trapper and hunter they called him in to assist with the problem. Now the problem centered on the town populated with people, houses, buildings, etc. In other words you weren’t shooting guns. So the obvious here was to contain garbage and to use rubber bullets to discourage black bear activity. Although I find Searles follow-up after shooting the rubber bullets; yelling “Bad Bear, Bad Bear”, more amusing than effective.
Well this may work at times in one concentrated area of (25.2) miles but this is N.J. spread out over 7,504.8 square miles with a human population of over 8 million.
Yet the local papers gave Searles front page coverage with:
“Expert Warns New Jersey Against Black Bear Hunt”.
Expert? California, holds successful black bear hunts every year culling over 1700 bears annually to control their own black bear population, they don’t shoot rubber bullets or yell “Bad Bear”.
Dr Lynn Rogers: A dedicated researcher yet clever “entrepreneur” conducts interesting studies of black bears under ideal conditions in and around Ely, Minnesota. Rogers, offers courses for study of black bears through the Wildlife Research Institute.
At the WRI, “Rogers built both first and second story ledges where he places feed such as seeds, nuts and acorns, “only supplementary food to the bear’s diet”. As the bears found the food, Rogers hung around and persuaded them to eat out of a large can. From there he went on to closer encounters with the bears as shown on his videos.
Dr. Rogers research has absolutely nothing to do with black bear overpopulation in New Jersey. In addition, Dr. Rogers makes it quite clear that it took years for him to learn these techniques of communicating with black bears and discourages others from trying.
Yet, the animal-right/anti-hunters put their own spin on Dr. Rogers work giving the impression that his studies support non-hunting of N.J. black bears. NOT
Edward Tavss, Rutgers University Professor of Chemistry has now become a “so-called” expert on New Jersey black bears and self-imposed inspector of NJDF&W reports.
It doesn’t take a PHD in Chemistry to understand that any state with a large human population and land development has to limit the wildlife population to a number consistent with human safety. This is why (27) states allow professional biologists of their F&W to determine the best methods of control. Professor of Chemistry required?, NO “Qualified F@W staff and common-sense.
As for incorrect reporting as stated by Tavss; if anything the numbers are low; in my own circle of family and friends no one bothers to call in when black bears cause a problem or pose a threat. Everyone in N.J. is just plain worn out from dealing.
Tavss is “out-of-his league” and grasping at straws to once again attempt a delay of the inevitable.
I have been involved with the N.J. black bear issue since 2000 and have written over 100 articles. My blog has been based on real and accurate facts. The main players are as follows:
Hunters; that have the legal right to pursue wildlife for recreation and/or food. (many not interested in black bear hunting, the majority have abided by the decisions regarding black bear hunting over the years)
Non-hunters supporting hunting as the most proven and effective method of wildlife management. (do not wish to hunt themselves but are not against hunting and understand the need)
Anti-hunters that are against all hunting. (want to see hunting of any kind stopped)
Radical Animal-right groups that place animal rights before human rights. (the worst of the groups as they have little regard for human rights and safety)
Animal lovers who may even understand the need for hunting but never-the-less have real emotional issues with animals being hurt in any manner. They deserve respect.
Politicians that are more concerned with votes than bears; that was until this year when they realizied the majority of N.J. residents support bear hunting and reduction of the black bear population. How do they know? Didn’t stop Chis Christi from being elected.
Let me give you the (5) Best-of-the-Best radical-animal-right/anti-hunting responses to several of my blogs:
No. (1) Patti C; you are a horrifying, ignorant thing, you are a complete moron, if you want to kill something look in the mirror, you are an ugly example of thousands of people that have no soul, no brain. I hope you get mauled by a Mack truck and live. In all sincerity I would rather see hunters dead than animals any day.
Then one last jab; The birthing of a baby bear is more beautiful than a human.
No. (2) sbraley; There is no need for hunting or people like you. I just hope to God someone hunts you down and eats you.
No. (3) WGMP; To all bear hunters and others who feel the need to become a little macho by shooting something with a gun; do the world a big favor and start with yourselves.
No. (4) Concerned Citizen; in relation to hunters, most serial killers and murderers start out by killing and torturing animals.
No. (5) Michael C; If bears require more territory the state should purchase the property, demolish the house and expand the bear territory.
There you have it perfect examples of some of the misguided, demented sicko’s against black bear hunting.
The Bear Group does however deserve some credit and it is not the garbage they print but the emphasis’ they place on garbage control.
Garbage containment is not just about black bear over-population. It has no effect on reducing the overpopulated black bears to a safe, co-existing number. However, it is just plain unhealthy to place garbage out on the street in plastic or paper bags. This not only attracts black bears but, raccoons, birds and domestic pets as well. Having garbage ripped apart, scattered all about the street is wrong.
We need to find a way for people to purchase the bear-resistant cans (I would call them animal resistant cans) at a reasonable price. This is a bad economy and some families simply do not have an extra $50.00 to $100.00 to lay out.
In the meantime, it would be wise to place garbage out as close to pick-up time as possible and whenever possible purchase the bear resistant cans they may not work all of the time but are better than regular cans or bags.
A special thanks to the professional, experienced and dedicated members of the NJDF&W/F&G. After years of being questioned, criticized and accused of everything except performing the jobs they were trained for they have finally been vindicated by those in power and the majority of N.J. citizens. They always had it right just never had the support.
Received many requests for information on butchering and processing of black bear meat:
Contact;Tom the Butcher (Bear and Deer)
Washington, New Jersey
(908) 689-7440
These are experienced butchers who offer custom cuts, smoked meat and use fully vacuumed packing. If you need advise on the best cuts and the cooking process, including recipes, just ask.
You may also find other butchers in your own areas be sure they have experience in black bear processing.
We need to reduce the black bear population so a special thanks to all of the hunters that are willing to do the job. Although, you may be accused of a variety of wrongs, as some of the comments I have listed above indicate, without hunters we would be overrun with unhealthy wildlife. Hunting is a legal right in our free nation, it is part of our countries heritage. As citizens of this free nation we have a choice on what sports and recreation to pursue. We can select the foods we want to eat and determine how we wish to obtain those foods.
Remember, this is 2010 and no one especially the NJDF&W/F&G and hunters would ever allow the black bear or any other wildlife to be hunted to extinction. Successful Wildlife Management must include hunting, that is the process.
Well, it is official; the black bear has succeeded in taking control of New Jersey. What a success story, once near extinction in 1970, the black bear was given a new lease on life by; Wildlife Professional Biologists under the F&G and Hunters that established and respected a ban on hunting.
By 2000 the trend was completely reversed and the black bear went from near extinction to overpopulation, with an attitude change from timid and fearful to belligerent and destructive.
In 2000, former Governor Christine Todd Whitman yielded to pressure from the animal-right/anti-hunting groups paving the way for politics to enter the arena of wildlife management.
Oh, there were moments of sanity when hunts were held in 2003 and 2005 but then entered Governor Corzine who flatly stated he was against any bear hunting. The new DEP Commissioner, appointed by Governor Corzine, Lisa Jackson quickly got her marching orders and followed the Governors beat.
Together they came up with a plan to overrule the 2005 agenda of black bear hunts and opted for a “research into non-lethal methods” of black bear population control. A stall tactic at best, because there were already numerous studies conducted around the country proving this to be ineffective.
So today a New Jersey black bear “rules”, they can break into garages and houses, attack and kill domestic pets and livestock, even attack and injure humans and they receive a pardon. Black bears are allowed to interfere with our recreation at state parks and yes even our “highest in the nation, tax paid for personal property and backyards”. Now not only do they travel in previous know “black-bear counties” they are seen in every county of New Jersey and cities including Trenton itself.
Although, there are “millions” of citizens, besides hunters, that support hunting as the most proven, effective method of wild game management, many politicians continue to listen to a minority of special interest animal-right/anti-hunting groups; Why? Because these groups are backed by people from other states who realize that New Jersey is their last battleground in which they can mix politics and wildlife management. By a well established network of communications they flood the Governor and others with misleading information and the threat of lost votes for anyone supporting black bear hunting. They continually, throw out the “blood thirsty trophy hunters” or the Fish&Games’ need to generate revenue for their salaries as the primary excuse for a hunt. To make matters worse they get support from news publications that are staffed with anti-hunting journalists that put the “anti-hunting-spin” on every black bear incident reported.
So what should we believe? Well to start with twenty-seven (27) states have large black bear populations that require population control. Many of these states, by the way, have less black bears and less complaints than N.J., but twenty-six (26) of those states, with both Democratic and Republican Governors, allow their Fish&Game, professionals to establish and maintain wildlife management programs.
All (26) of these states have successfully controlled their black bear populations for decades through hunting seasons. They are able to maintain a healthy black bear population and reduce the level of dangerous black bear activities. Just to be perfectly clear here, yes even in these states a black bear may occasionally roam into a populated area or attempt to break into a garage or house, but, the big but, is that without years of hunting for population control these problems would be multiplied to a much higher and more dangerous level; like? You guessed it N.J. today.
What else can we believe? Our own eyes, ears and common-sense. We see drastic increases, 20% or greater, in overall black bear complaints, we see black bears in places they never travelled before and where they were seen we see them more often and in greater numbers. We hear the stories from the people, neighbors, family and friends that have been victims of intrusive and aggressive black bears, we hear of domestic pets attacked and killed, farmer’s livestock and crops damaged. Common-sense clearly tells us that “no wild game animal” can be left to just multiply beyond their natural range carrying capacity to whatever size population they can reach.
I started this blog on my own after researching the New Jersey black bear problem since 2000 and when my daughter and grandchildren became prisoners’ in their own house as the black bears invaded their backyard and threatened their safety. If you review the other OPEDS in my blog you will find that this extensive research has enabled me to publish accurate and fair information about the “modern black bear”. Development of land and increasing human population has led to an attitude change in black bear behavior and that change is a danger to humans.
Many people not in favor of hunting are not necessarily all on a political agenda but simply do not like to think of an animal being culled through hunting. These people must be respected and understood. But in return these same individuals must also understand that the most precious life is human life, the good human goes out of their way to save each other and then animals as well, but their priorities are in order, human rights before animal rights.
Hunting is a legal right in our country; it is the right of humans to “harvest” their own game for food. A black bear or a deer is food for those that wish to pursue historical traditions. A cow, pig, calf etc, raised for consumption by humans, is no less “cute” than the wild game a hunter harvests. In the end game they all become food. Domestic livestock populations are controlled according to consumption needs and the method of controlling domestic livestock? Slaughterhouses that kill and prepare the meat for human consumption.
Wild game animals need to have the same controlled populations in order to avoid disease, starvation through lack of available food, wasted death through vehicle collisions and even overhunting that can damage the balance. The method is not much different than domestic livestock with one exception; wild game is given a chance to survive through their own cunning senses and ability to escape. The strong and healthy do so and that strengthens the health of their overall population while the weaker are culled to maintain the population to acceptable numbers.
This is Wildlife Management and to remain successful it requires professionals, biologists not politicians, nor animal-right/anti-hunting groups misleading and false intervention. It doesn’t need newspapers’ putting personal spins on factual stories. We don’t need inexperienced people and/or animal-right or anti-hunters on Fish & Game commissions. Why; well without them New Jersey F&G and hunters were able to develop a very healthy black bear population and in this year 2009 there is no F&G or hunter that would not revert to non-hunting of any species if it was required for their continued existence. Hunters are historical and proven conservationists.
We now have an emergency situation in New Jersey, each day those that understand black bear overpopulation and their now “no-fear” attitude wait each day for the bad news; a human severely mauled or killed by a black bear. Just think of this; if you had the opportunity today to be a “Good Samaritan” would you not do anything to help a fellow human being, to save someone from injury or death? If your answer is yes then start supporting a black bear hunt in New Jersey, write the Governor, DEP and your local politicians and let them know. Don’t listen to the animal-righty/anti-hunters, we have run out of time, we need a hunt immediately.
Governor Corzine may not like hunting, but he surely is not looking to have someone mauled and killed by an overpopulated black bear. Since Governor Whitman, her successors have inherited that incorrect decision she made in 2000. Now like the others the Governor is caught in the web. Let’s give him the opportunity to put this back where it belongs, with the F&G and state biologists, where science will rule, not black bears and politics. Put politics back in the corner of human safety, the safety of the citizens of New Jersey.
A warm spring evening in rural New Jersey and night gently pushes out the daylight, chirping birds quite now as they retreat to their hideaways. On cue tree-frogs having rested all day, begin their hunt for food, small insects and bugs. As the night progresses the males will begin to croak and call out for the females in choruses, first a group from the left, then the right, then in front, back and forth their sound traveling for long-distances.
From a nearby pond the tree-frogs are joined by relatives as their much larger cousins, the bull-frogs sing out with deep, loud croaks of their own. While helping the tree-frogs to keep down the mosquito and insect populations their much larger appetite may include fellow frogs. Bull-frogs are free from natural predators and can use their toxic secretions to disable their prey.
Used to be;further back in the woods unseen and unheard roamed the Black Bear, looking for wild fruit trees, nuts and juicy, moist greens and a nice meal of fawn or other meat. With no natural predators to worry about the mighty bears ruled the dark wilderness without fear. In the daylight hours they had learned to avoid their only predator, humans as they rightly associated them with danger. For centuries they became familiar with the human smell, the sound of a gun, the twang of a bow string and they knew too well that their mighty strength was no match for the thunder sticks.
Used to be; a lot more forest for the bears but as development of land began to chip away at their natural habitant they began to drift closer to humans. In many states where hunting takes place the bears knew their limits. Sure every now and then they wound up in someone’s backyard, maybe found a garbage pail, a low birdfeeder or some other scrap. But they still resisted bold interaction with humans.
Used to be; less black bears, not only in New Jersey, but around the United States now they are on the increase in every state but still under control through hunting. In New Jersey however, we have a black bear “epidemic” created by a political “epidemic” of interference with the state’s Fish & Wildlife by the Governor’s office. Fueling this controversy are anti-hunting/animal-rights groups and a DEP that refuses to support the professional, experienced wildlife biologists and Fish&Game Council. These groups continue to misinform and mislead a very busy Governor who is struggling with the financial woes of N.J. If the Governor were given the correct information he would quickly understand the danger to humans, the success of hunting in (26) other states with large black bear populations, the money he could save by stopping all of these taxpayer, funded court battles and the money he could earn by adding black bear hunting to the hunting licenses and permit revenue stream. The Fish&Game, hunters and citizens would never allow the black bear population to shrink to extinction; we need a balanced population for safe coexistence with humans.
Used to be; that everyday common-sense played a supporting role in decision making. Common-sense clearly tells us that the black bear simply cannot be left to multiply beyond the states natural carrying capacity. Even in states with hunting land development has influenced the black bears behavior. Those that lack common-sense indicate that proves hunting does not work. Common-sense rebuts with statistics showing that without centuries of hunting these same states would now be overrun with black bears further inflating serious intrusive complaints and attacks on domestic livestock and humans. In New Jersey, complaints went down after hunts in 2003 and 2005 (the last hunt in N.J.) and up in 2007, 2008 and again in 2009 with more aggressive black bear behavior being reported.
Used to be; humans could sit out in the privacy of their backyards to enjoy the “tax-paid-for” property they escape to after a working day. A place for the children to meet and play or perhaps it is supposed to be a relaxing day in someone’s retired life. Now we have to contend with “overpopulated” non-human-fearing, black bears. Day or night they roam taking away the peace and security of our homes.
Many so-called bear experts continue to ignore the warning signs, by writing again and again on how to tolerate black bears, how to co-exist, while the black bear counters with increased aggressiveness towards humans. The black bears of New Jersey have “NO-FEAR” and studies show that their once shy behavior has steadily been changing to an unpredictable aggressive behavior. Wild animals are “unpredictable” and when they are large and strong they are dangerous.
The peaceful chorus of frogs; chirping are the tree-frogs, croaking deeply are the bull-frog, they give us free entertainment and hunt pesky bugs and mosquito’s and as the dusk of another day greets us we can close our eyes and live in the beauty of our own backyard wilderness; SNAP, POP, BANG what the heck? Yup now we have the sound of a black bear like a drunk at a ballgame spoiling the day. Silencing the frogs and sending us scrambling quickly to safety, hope we all get there in time. From a safe place we watch a big beautiful male moving with a certain poetic gate; stopping now and then his nose to the sky as he wind-scents then standing on hind legs for a better view, gracefully he comes back down on all fours and moves forward. He looks out of place, this majestic bear now on display in a large development akin to a zoo. Oh, he knows we are watching and the look on his face somehow expresses the disgust of leaving the beauty of once hidden forest land to be a part of fast paced human habitant. Perhaps he can steal a leftover meal from some unsecured garbage pail or maybe find a rabbit cage or a kitchen door leading to some freshly baked pies. Maybe today he won’t be in such a good mood and find some human to threaten, maybe swipe, maybe worse. A child would be easier prey. Well he doesn’t particularly like to pick on humans but time has taught him that he is bigger, stronger and humans!! They don’t fight back so maybe today he will be your typical bully.
Maybe that look on his face tells us of better times, times when there were less brothers, sisters and cousins occupying the hidden forests, times when he didn’t have to cope with camera crazy humans, times when a human would be lucky to see him. Now humans are his “paparazzi” they follow him for candid shots, they are intrusive and annoying. Hunters; they kill but he has a chance to use his skills against theirs, he is good and when the population is reduced to the proper numbers he will be difficult to find, he will go back to the forest where he relaxed and enjoyed his clandestine lifestyle. The strong will survive, the weak will fall and the balance will be good for both him and humans.
Frogs give us peace when we hear them; black bears give us peace when we don’t see them.
So stop the non-sense; use common-sense just how long does anyone really believe that New Jersey can allow the black bear population to continue growing? There just is not enough room and contrary to what the anti’s suggest it is not a matter of “move-out” if you do not like living with bears because human-rights before animal-rights. We need hunting, whether you are a hunter or not, this is the only proven method of wildlife management. Twenty-six (26) out of Twenty-seven (27) states successfully use hunting to control their black bear population.
Contact your state Senators, the Governors office and DEP let them know you support controlled black bear hunting, value human safety and need to know you can enjoy your own “tax-paid-for-property” without fear of wild animals. Let them know that you support black bear rights to exist in their own natural habitant, to survive using their own skills and not be forced to leave their homeland due to black bear overpopulation. New Jersey is preserving forest and farm land through preservation this will help the black bear if there are not too many.
Since 2000 the New Jersey Black Bears have made their presence know through disrupting the “safety-zone of balance” required for co-existence with the human population.
At the same time animal-rights and anti-hunting groups saw an opportunity to prey on the weak political system in New Jersey through Governor Whitman. These groups created some illusion that “pardons” for intrusive black bear behavior should replace the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists, professional conclusion that black bear hunts should take place in order to reduce the overpopulation and maintain a “safe co-existing” level. Keep in mind these are the same professionals that successfully brought the black bear population to an acceptable number from the lows of the 1970’s.
It is interesting to note that many of these animal-right/anti-hunting groups do not even reside in New Jersey or at least live near black bear country.
In addition to attacking the F&W, these groups obviously set out against hunting and hunters. The first line of attacks came in the form of “Hunters are simply looking to put Trophy’s on their walls”. By alluding to trophy hunting they hoped and in fact did solicit support from animal lovers. The black bear was portrayed as this helpless animal (mammal actually) that was being targeted by blood thirsty hunters and being offered for slaughter by money hungry Fish&Game members and biologists.
Within this “blame-base” the anti’s offered garbage (you can take that comment both ways) as another pardon excuse.
Well garbage was a problem but this became a problem when the black bear population exceeded its natural carrying habitant and the overflow began to roam into previously unexplored territories.
For added “pardon-symphony” the anti’s cited “land development”. Here again, we should pardon the black bear and put the blame on human population growth, both new families and senior citizens with a need for housing. Of course, we have those “transferred-rural-tree hugging homeys” that believe once they move to the country everyone else should stay away. Why, if you don’t want the black bear killing your pets, domestic animals, breaking into your garages and houses, attacking and threatening humans, disrupting human rights and freedom, “get-out-of-town”.Sound familiar? It is like the old Westerns, “howdy partner why this town isn’t big enough for the both of us move out or draw.”
Well just look at these latest statistics:
July 21, 2008 to August 20, 2008 the state black bear unit received (437) bear calls compared to (185) for the same period in 2007
Fifty (50) calls were Category 1, (247) calls were Category 11, (140) calls were Category 111 in the time period 2008 as noted above
Twelve (12) calls were Category 1, (101) calls were Category 11, (72) calls were Category 111 in the time period 2007 as noted above.
From January 1, 2008 through August 20, 2008 a total of (1821) bear calls were received as compared to (1037) for the same time period in 2007.
The black bear unit in total received from January 1, 2008 through August 20, 2008; (169) Category 1 calls, (1015) Category 11 calls, and (637) Category 11 calls
For the same time period 2007 the calls were; (75) Category 1 calls, (543) Category 11 calls, (419) Category 111 calls.
Eighteen (18) bears were euthanized in 2008 as compared to (13) in 2007.
·Category 1: Behavior includes; human attacks, home entries, attempted home entries, agricultural crop damage and killing livestock or pets.
·Category 11: Behavior includes; nuisance bears arehabitual visitors’ to dumpsters or birdfeeders and property damage less than $500.00
·Category 111 : Behavior includes; wandering into populated areas, passing through rural and suburban neighborhoods, bears observed by hikers, hunters, campers and others using facilities in black bear habitant
All of this activity, basically “criminal-activity” and last week we have the NJSPCA filing charges against a Jefferson woman, on behalf of the black bear no-less, because her dog chased, caught and killed a small black bear that trespassed on her property. Just imagine and think real hard about this, they want to put a human being, a woman, in jail because her dog killed a “wild-trespassing” animal that is destroying domestic pets, livestock and property.
Look at it this way if this non-sense does not stop, if the court does not throw this ridicules case out of court, anyone, your own family and/or friends that own a dog could end up with fines and jail if that dog happens to defend it’s property and attacks a trespassing, “wild-bear”.
On the other hand, if the black bear succeeds in killing your domestic pet there is no legal recourse for you (0), nothing.
We have wasted time and taxpayers money on this issue since 2000; New Jersey State Supreme hearings, Governor’s, DEP Commissioners,Judges of local courts everyone involved in a decision making process that belongs to the professional F&G and biologists that are experienced and paid to make these decisions.
This is totally out of control, non-experienced people, politicians or others should not be allowed to interfere with professionals. No, we do not need inexperienced people on the Fish & Game Council; we do not need animal-rights/anti-hunters determining the process for managing wild game.
Lastly, hunter or not we do not need to question the legal right a citizen has to harvest and process and consume their own food. It is the balance of hunting and game management that brings about a safe co-existence with wild animals all through America, except New Jersey, “Pardon Us but no more Black Bear Pardons.” Governor Corzine inherited this problem write him and tell him it is OK to pass the buck to Fish&Game.
In the past the Black Bear has only two predators to fear the Brown Bear and the hunter. However, over the past (10) years the black bear has faced a new threat; the tree-hugging human community.
Anti-hunting and animal-rights groups have joined forces to use the black bear as a platform for their core existence. Although, having lost battles around the country they found a home in New Jersey where they succeeded in 2000 by successfully turning the black bear overpopulation problem into a political football. Governor Christie Whitman was the first causality as she gave into the pressure; casting aside the New Jersey Fish and Game professionals decision to hold a 2000 black bear hunt in order to reduce and balance the black bear population to a level that would allow the safe co-existence between bears and humans.
We know that in 1970 the black bear hunting seasons were eliminated as the estimated population was at one hundred (100). The cause for this decline was listed as development of land coupled with hunting.
Bear roams near a residential area in New Jersey
The New Jersey Fish and Game and hunters have been targeted by anti-hunting and animal rights groups and used to create a situation wherein the real problem of “black bear overpopulation” was masked by putting the emphasis on the “Fish&Game Council’s looking to protect their jobs” and “hunter’s looking to trophy hunt black bears”.
Nothing can be further from the truth or so irrelevant to the overpopulation problem. If not for the efforts of the NJF&G whose conservation efforts brought the black bear back from the estimated 100 to numbers between 2000 to 3000 and hunters that respected the F&G biologists decisions and participated in the non-hunting laws and regulations then we would not be having this black bear overpopulation issue today.
However, while the hunting community was observing the rules many tree-huggers were behind the scenes feeding and baiting bears into areas for the purpose of observing and photographing the once timid and shy black bear creating a “Zoo” atmosphere within the boundaries of their homes and land. This situation has contributed to the food conditioned bears that lead to aggressive behavior.
As the human population continued to increase so did the development of land to accommodate both housing and commercial building. In areas where black bears may have been fed new houses cropped up and with the increased housing a new food source; garbage. This coupled with black bear population growth is where we began to experience the change in black bear activity and behavior.
This is best explained by the testimony of a known bear expert Stephen Herrero who recanted a conclusion stated in his 1985 book to the effect that black bears were essentially benevolent. Herrero was called for a deposition involving the 1996 lawsuit against the state of Arizona wherein a captured, tagged and relocated black bear returned to it’s place of origin, nearly 100 miles, mauling and disfiguring a (16) year old girl participating in a 4H outing. The state settled for 2.5 million dollars and you can believe that the girl and her family would gladly have given that up to have stopped that life altering attack.
Herrero stated under oath; I do think that there is more danger than I realized from food conditioned, habituated, and aggressive bears, the combination of the three. And if I were rewriting that chapter, I would emphasize that there are three ingredients, habituations, the food conditioning, and rewarding aggressive behavior over time that increased the chances of injury… I have learned since the publication of the book that there is more involvement in serious injuries by black bears than I knew of at the time that I wrote the book. (Knochel v. State, Arizona Superior Court, Civ. No. 98-09396, Deposition of Stephen Herrero, January 6, 1999, at pp. 218-219)
So we know that the development of land is pushing the black bear out of their natural habitant. We also know that the population of both humans and the black bear is increasing. We know that garbage has become a food source and efforts are clearly in place as people are making every effort to secure garbage, including stronger shed and garage doors as bear have progressed beyond garbage pail and bear resistant containers.
We know that birds can no longer be fed, as the harmless and safe feeding of birds now attracts the black bear to our homes. Backyard barbecues’ require a people watch both during and after cooking as bears seek out the smell of food. Home baked pies and cookies now must be secured in smell proof containers less we have black bear visitors in our kitchens. Schoolyards now have watch posts and black bear drills, parents wait at bus stops protecting their children from “lunch-bag” seeking bears. Developments near forests have parents leaving car doors unlocked so children may reach the safety of a vehicle should a bear wander into the area. Small children must be kept inside along with domestic pets; livestock requires flock guards such as dogs or Llamas and all of these precautions will still do nothing to stem the growth of the black bear population or the inevitable tragedies we have already seen and are still to come.
All of this at a time when the economy and conditions in the US created the need for people use and enjoy the privacy of their own backyards and state and public parklands.
We have to face the issue now and that is there is simply no way whatsoever to allow the black bear population to continue to grow. There is only so much land to be safely shared by humans and a wild black bear and that safety zone has been surpassed. There is “absolutely” no other way to reduce the black bear population and maintain the proper balance than hunting. This is no longer about hunting, although this is a legal right of our citizens, it is about “population-control”.
All of the so-called bear-education bear resistant garbage cans, adverse conditioning will have no effect on the problem; “There is not enough land to support the current black bear population”. Sterilization is a proven failure and has no place in the population control equation.
The education we need is that “never” should politics, emotions or personal preferences of our leaders be allowed to interfere with the decisions of educated and successful professional biologists. No other state allows this to happen, both the former and current Governors of Maryland simply stated to all; we understand and respect the emotions regarding the hunting of black bears in Maryland but as recommended by the F&G the hunt will go on; and it did.
Our New Jersey F&G professionals calculated and brought back the black bear, now we must allow them to maintain this great mammal to a level where they can roam in their own habitant. Neither the F&G nor hunters would allow the black bear to be hunted to extinction or anywhere near it. Need proof? Look at the successful work both have done to bring the black bear to the current levels.
In the final analysis, do we gamble with human life for the sake of an anti-hunting/animal-rights movement? Do we allow inexperienced politicians to override trained, educated and experienced wildlife biologists? Is any family out there or any person willing to chance the life of a human being over that of a wild mammal?
This is just plain common sense, let the F&G professionals perform their job, let the hunters do the work and at the same time make good use of the game through consumption as a healthy food source. Let the black bear population be managed to a safe co-existing level and stay that way.
out the daylight, chirping birds quite now as they retreat to their hideaways. On cue tree-frogs having rested all day, begin their hunt for food, small insects and bugs. As the night progresses the males will begin to croak and call out for the females in choruses, first a group from the left, then the right, then in front, back and forth their sound traveling for long-distances. 
NJ Bear Hunt 