(So is this article long but give it a look)

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.

Mike D

Many of the anti-hunting/animal-rights groups often refer to Dr. Lynn Rogers, Minnesota based so-called bearcourse/bearstudy workshop wherein people can learn to co-exist with black bears.

These courses generally run (4) days and cost approximately $1000.00 (of which $900.00 is listed as tax deductible) The fee goes to the nonprofit (501C) (3) Wildlife Research Center. The deductible $900.00 is the portion beyond actual expenses and is considered a donation to further their research and education program. The courses are coordinated by Sue Mansfield a recent graduate of Antioch University, New England where she completed her Master’s work. Mansfield has been conducting field work with Dr. Rogers since 2001.

Together Rogers and Mansfield monitor approximately (50+) bears in the study area learning the bears personalities. Many of these bears are monitored through radio-collars.

Courses are conducted at the Northwoods Research Center and surrounding forest west of Ely, Minneosta.

The course as noted; helps participants to realize the extent of the misconceptions held by the public and anyone who has not actually spent time with bears.

 

Rogers is noted as one of the world’s experts on black bear behavior and has shown that black bears can be lived with in peace. However, he cautions others severely that his techniques have taken long periods of time to learn to read animals signs.

 

Rogers further states “It took many years for me to overcome the brain-washing I grew up with about bears. Finally I began to interpret their body language and vocalizations in terms of their fears rather than my fears, and I found that I could build trusting relationships with these intelligent wild animals”

 

Whether intentionally or unintentionally the research of Lynn Rogers is serving the anti-hunters/animal-rights groups by creating the illusion that we can “get-close” to and “co-exist” with wild black bears. The buzz word here is “wild”.

Rogers and Mansfield are working with and studying black bears in an almost “open-zoo” environment.

As noted by Rogers; he built first and second story ledges where he places feed such as seeds, nuts and acorns, 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.

 

This is simply an old “hunters” game plan. Prior to hunting season in states that allow bear baiting, the hunting outfitters will place (55) gallon drums in the forest and place rotten meat, bread, donuts and molasses inside. This will attract the bears to the area where they will then become accustomed to the feeding schedules. These “food-conditioned” bears will eventually appear as the guides drive into their areas to deposit more food. In fact, in the off-season the outfitters will place buckets of hard bacon or other meat fats, in these locations so any chance the bears get they can return to the baited areas for supplemental refills.

It is no secret that once a black bear or most wild game for that matter find a food source they eventually will become more comfortable with the surroundings. In places where people feed deer they can rattle a can, place the food next to them and have the deer come out of the nearby woods to practically eat out of their hands.

 

These study bears are conditioned by repetition and fed to accept human interaction and by no way are a reflection of the wild black bears that populate our states and for purposes of this report New Jersey.

 

There are two issues here:

 

First: The majority of humans do not want to create a condition wherein they are sharing backyards and public parks with wild black bears.

Second: In spite of Lynn Rogers’s “homey bears” the black bears that the majority of us must deal with are “wild”, “unpredictable”, “dangerous” and have exhibited a change in behavior from once shy and timid to aggressive.

 

There have been enough unprovoked black bear attacks over the past year alone that supports the “bad-news-bears”.

 

Just this month:

 

Caliente, California; a 56 year old mother was mauled by a bear while walking her dogs. Only through the sacrifice of her dogs did she somehow manage to escape though badly bitten and mauled. A nature lover with years of experience in the Sierras, the woman said she’s had countless encounters with bears, and always believed it wasn’t in their nature to attack. But her latest encounter has changed her mind for good.

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park; an eight year old boy and his father were mauled by a black bear that pounced on the boy in a creek without provocation. No food was present the bear simply attacked the boy.

 

“This is so rare”, said Lynn Rogers, I don’t know if you would call a bear like that a demented bear, like some people, or a super bear that decides, ‘Hey, I can take a person” quite a remark from the so-called bear expert.

 

 

 

Well if Rogers would further his research to other areas in the U.S. and Canada places where black bears are “wild” and not fed and studied in the “open-zoo” he would find the answer.

Perhaps so best observed by another more practical bear expert; Stephen Herrero who recanted a Rogers like analogy Herrero had published in his 1985 book on black bears stating that “black bears were essentially benevolent”.

 

 Herrero stated under oath while giving a deposition in a black bear mauling lawsuit against Arizona in a 1996 mauling of a 16 year old girl by a relocated nuisance black bear that traveled back some 100 miles to the same location to attack and  permanently disfigure the teenager:

 

“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.”

 

Dr. Rogers has been compared some to Dr. Jane Goodall, who interestingly has been criticized by some for; “using feeding stations to attract Gombe chimpanzees” for research.

 

As for comparisons to Dian Fossey there are none as this very brave and talented woman was studying the vanishing Mountain Gorilla in dangerous, remote areas of Africa where the population, due mainly to poaching, was down to less than 200.

 

Here is the problem with today’s black bears; they are no longer shy and timid. The human population and development of land has created the need to control and maintain a specific number of black bears that can move about in their own natural habitant.

 

In essence, black bears do not need to be observed as in the Lynn Rogers open zoo environment, do not need to be fed to bring them into research areas, there is no need to reach out and touch them they should be left to the privacy of the woods and forests where they are born.

 

Bears are at the top of the food chain and in order to maintain a “healthy black bear population” and this will sound challenging to some, there must be hunting by their only real predator, man. Through, this proven wild game management tool the black bears can be controlled to a number wherein they have enough room to move about in their own natural environment.

 

In states where we have hunting and still have black bear problems this is an indication that the bear population is not consistent with available habitant. States like Pennsylvania recognize this and adjust their hunting seasons accordingly.

 

Just imagine what black bear problems we would have in our country today if not for the black bear hunting seasons of our (26) sister states that understand the need to separate politics and emotions from biologists’ input. Hundreds of thousands of black bears would be around today and with them triple the attacks, injuries, deaths and problems.

 

Lastly, sterilization and other proposed non-lethal remedies have failed and will continue to fail; this is not part of the wild game enviroement. There is no more time for the stall tactics of the anti-hunting/animal-rights groups, inexperienced politicians with personal agendas or the mislead public’s emotions. Non-lethal methods have never and will never work this has been proven in N.J. when black bear problems were down the year after each hunt and substantially increased the years after non-hunting. Wild game is taught to survive, the strong do for the most part to live and breed, others become part of our human food source and other products which is exactly why they were created. No different than domestic animals like cows, goats, chickens, etc a food source.

 

Mike D.