Well, it took (5) long years; millions of non-hunting citizens that understand and support hunting, a Governor that does not put politics ahead of human safety, nor allows emotional rhetoric to overrule professional biologists and Fish & Game experts but finally; the long overdue hunt is now scheduled for this year.
Plain common-sense has trumped the anti-hunting/animal-right charade-parade that has caused the New Jersey black bear population to grow out-of-control. Bottom-line; No wild-animal/mammal can be simply left to propagate to whatever numbers they can reach, especially one that poses a serious threat to human safety; they are at the top of the food chain, do not fear humans and are overpopulated.
Now be prepared for a final onslaught of misleading lies and information from the various anti-hunting/animal-right groups. They are losing their final foothold on the “only” state in the nation with a large black bear population that allowed emotional outcry and politics to interfere with professional wildlife managers and biologists that determined hunting was required for black bear population control.
(1) Let’s start with the “Bear Group” who preys on the emotions of many honest people that have a problem dealing with the killing of any animal and sucking emotional money out of them through promoting the illusion that “garbage-control” will somehow solve the problem of overpopulation.
The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife has made the public aware of the need for garbage control long ago, but let’s give some credit to the Bear Group; they did help F&W by getting this message more attention. Garbage control is important not only for black bears, but raccoons and rats and general health; not overpopulation.
But now they are wasting donation money on? The purchase of (6) billboards, in (6) different locations in northwest N.J. to protest the bear hunt. Janet Pizar, queen of illusion was quoted as saying; “the billboards are generating enormous opposition from the public”. Sure Pizar, right “in your dreams”. Not the citizens of N.J., not the people living in bear country, not even the people in some (21) counties that now realize that overpopulated black bears are relocating to places they never were in before.
There is no better way to “protect” the black bear than reducing their population to a number that allows them to thrive in their own natural environment. Protect them? Yes because if they are allowed to continue to propagate, to break into garages, houses, attack humans, domestic pets and livestock they will soon be labeled vermin.
(2) This then leads us to the next group; Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club who was quoted as saying; “The bears that will ultimately pay the price of a hunt will be those living in the forests that do not venture into neighborhoods and communities”
Jeff, have you travelled throughout New Jersey black bear country at all? Nearly every community that has black bear problems is surrounded by either State Hunting Land or private lands leased by hunting clubs. These are the lands that will be hunted.
Jeff, the problem is land development and overpopulation do you know what happens when land is developed? Wildlife moves, they have no room so they move Jeff. Reduce the black bear population and you open up the forests so they “gain” room, so the PAPA bears don’t chase out the youngsters and they can drift back to the privacy of the open forests that remain.
Now here you go; Tittel states; “his groups’ position that if a bear hunt is held in the state it should be a management hunt, not a recreational hunt”.
Why is that? Labeling a hunt as recreational is a copout of some sort. Every state includes recreational hunting as part of? “Wildlife Management”. Every hunt is a management hunt and when the experts foresee a problem with hunting a specific species what do they do? Control the process through establishing limits or removing the species from the hunting schedule as they did when? “1970” when both the NJDF&W with the full cooperation of hunters stopped black bear hunting. Guess what, in 1970 citizens didn’t give a hoot about black bears or what their numbers were, it was only NJDF&W and hunters that were concerned.
The last myths to dispel; only hunters want the hunt, this is a Trophy Hunt and they plan to waste the meat and opt for rugs and mounts.
NOT; Millions of non-hunting N.J. citizens support hunting and especially hunting of black bears to bring the numbers to a safe coexisting level.
Sure there are certainly large black bears in N.J., but just like any other species the older, larger animals are the smartest and have the best survival instincts. Hunters are being asked by landowners and the public to use hunting to “reduce” the black bear population and that is the plan.
Black bear meat is edible; butchers throughout the state are ready to prepare the meat for consumption which includes the usual “beef like” cuts of steaks, chops, roasts, stew and chop meat. Many years ago black bears were the only bear species hunted for meat which was considered savory, rather delicious and tastes not unlike pork.
What can be done to protect the black bear? Identify the real problems and work on ways to control it;
Population and Land Development: (Information available to the public from various sources)
Population:
New Jersey’s population is balanced by the migration of our citizens to other states and the influx of international immigrants to take their place. As immigrants move into such counties as Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Middlesex and Union citizens move out of state or further to other counties like; Ocean, Somerset, Burlington, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Warren Monmouth and Sussex.
New Jersey between 1990 and 1999 had its natural rate of population growth (births and deaths) nullified by the number of our citizens that moved out-of-state replenished by the influx of international immigrants that contributed to our reported growth.
People are willing to move within the state in spite of increased travel time as the average commute time for Sussex residents is approximately (40) minutes. This movement into previously less developed areas will contribute to the building of new homes further chipping away at farm and forest lands.
Can then anything be done to solve this problem? Does the Federal Government have the power to better control the influx of immigrants? Do our citizens want to stem the flow of immigrants?
If we do nothing then the internal migration from county-to-county will continue and the development of farm and forest will further reduce the natural habitant of our wildlife.
Development of Land:
Statistics indicate that from 1986 – 1995, statewide the rate of newly developed acres per new resident was 0.362 acres per person. A 2000 study indicated that the rate of development 1995-2000 was approximately (50) acres per day or 18,000 acres a year. If that rate of development were to continue, combined with land preservation, New Jersey could have developed all of its buildable land within the next 25 to 30 years.
If we do not stop the development of land through more incentives for farmland preservation, support of state land purchases then the future of not only the black bear but all wildlife is in jeopardy.
So here it is all anti-hunter/animal right people, if you really are concerned about the future of our New Jersey wildlife then get involved in these two last issues.
We need to better understand the problems concerning an uncontrolled influx of immigrants into New Jersey.
We need to support farmland preservation and state land purchases that prevent the development of what farm and forest we have left in New Jersey.
We need to get involved in selecting the right leaders.
We need to put emotions aside and let common-sense lead us and allow professionals with proven track records to develop programs involving wildlife population control.
Well, we all complain at one time or another about this state, the problems are taxes and the high income required to live here, dirty politics and foolish politicians with “vote getting agendas” outweighing what is right for the needs of the people. Most people agree that at this time only the very rich can retire in New Jersey.
It doesn’t have to be this way we need to get involved and select the right leaders, we need to support programs that will help us clean up the problems. We should be concentrating our efforts toward these goals, worrying about a black bear hunt itself is not going to help the black bear as I hope you can better understand the bigger problems that will ultimately do them in.
All of the other (27) states that hold black bear hunts have no issues because through hunting they have been able to maintain thriving, healthy black bear populations year after year, decade after decade.
Hunting itself is our heritage, our legal right to pursue wildlife as a sport or as a food source. It allows many of us to become a part of a past we never new, a time when the world was less complicated, where hard work for most was not measured in dollars but in tilled land, good crops and game on the table. Family time was not centered around computers, television, soap operas or reality shows because life in those days was surreal as it was.
Hunting to the majority is not about “killing” because of the millions of hunters that take to wood and field small percentages come back with game; but it is not the game that makes the hunt it is the time spent with family and friend in a place so far removed from the hectic pace of today as to make every minute special and worthwhile. Many hunting stories at the end of a day are about wildlife, some chipmunk spending hours gathering food, some bird building a nest, a fox pursuing some rabbit, a coyote sneaking about, a rock formation resembling some animal, water rolling over a bed of rocks. You see when you go hunting it isn’t just walking into the woods blasting away and killing something, it is spending time, hours, sometimes dawn to dusk without ever “killing” anything. Good hunters spend that time to enjoy the outdoors and if along the way they “harvest” game this is a bonus and for most healthy food for the table. What it comes down to is this, we all need to eat and meat is the number one choice of the vast majority, whether you buy it in the supermarket neatly packaged from a slaughter house or harvest it yourself and have it packaged on your own is a personal decision. Slaughtered or harvested the end result was the same. Well, not quite actually hunted animals have a chance to escape as the smartest usually do; slaughter houses give no chance.
When you ride around the various areas like, Northern New Jersey, where rolling farmland meet pine forests, lakes and streams crossing about here and there, small log cabins located on hidden ponds, to South Jersey and the shore where sprawling homes sit ocean front or cozy shore houses dot the side streets. While the board’walks provide entertainment for adults and children alike, a simple shore house is the backdrop for retired couples to enjoy the sound of the waves the songs of the sea gulls while the young too gather about for sun, fun and summer recreation.
New Jersey is just 30 to 40 minutes from one culture to another, from the bright lights of Broadway to the Casinos in Atlantic City, to the farms and forests of Sussex. From placing coins in slot machines to putting coins in some farmers, “leave money here box” as we purchase the most delicious, home grown, New Jersey corn and tomatos.
From macadam and concrete, malls and stores to farms, dirt roads, cows, horses and wildlife, deer always, bears occasionally (lately more occassional than should be) , birds of every kind.
What a beautiful state; lets hope we can keep it this way and that somehow it can go back in time some before greedy developers and selfish politicians put us on a course where many have to leave our roots and move away.
Hey! Just like the black bear, over-population and land development it will get us all.
The Bear Education and Resource Group has paid for a half page ad in the Daily Record, Morris County, N.J. stating among other things that:
“The Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) is the blame, breaking the law by refusing to enforce the feeding ban.”
“The DFW refuses to enforce proper garbage storage laws and instead of ticketing property owners, they “allow” bears to be lured into human environments by the smell of garbage and there they kill them-using these incidents to justify bear hunting.
“DFW “solely” exists to manage sport hunting.
“Non-lethal bear management (ex: garbage control) is the only proven way to manage black bears.
At the bottom of this ad, of course, there is a form for making a donation of; $25.00 to $500.00.
This is an outright SLANDER of DFW proven, professionals.
The only reason The Bear Group and other anti-hunting/animal right groups have existed for these past years in N.J. are some past Governors and politicians that were afraid to take a chance with “voters” by supporting and endorsing the DFW and their professional, experienced members that have the responsibility of managing “wildlife” in New Jersey.
Now after an all out attack on Chris Christi to prevent him from defeating Governor Corzine, their “Stop the hunt Godfather”, they realize that “Governor Christi” is not going to play “politics” with “black bear overpopulation”, the Governor made it clear “prior” to being elected; BLACK BEAR HUNT? YES.
SO WHAT IS THE TRUTH?????
The Bear Group is nothing more than an inexperienced clan of misleading individuals that attempt to use emotions to play on the “emotions” of innocent animal-lovers, duping them out of money to sustain a meaningless cause.
For all of the past years, 2000 through 2010, The Bear Group has published nothing but ‘GARBAGE”, because garbage has absolutely nothing to do with OVERPOPULATION or managing “the increase in the N.J. black bear population”. Garbage containment is important for more than black bear issues, it can become a health issue when left for rats, birds, stray dogs, etc.; but to solve black bear overpopulation now and in the future; NOT
As for the information the Bear Group lays claim to, garbage containment , how to live with the black bear, adverse conditioning, this has been made available for years by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife in handouts and on their website.
The half-page article the bear group placed in the Daily Record, Morris County on 3/14/10, is not only an outright lie, it is a “slanderous” attack on the qualified, professional New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and Fish & Game Council and on the DFW agencies throughout the U.S. in every state and the governing bodies they fall under.
These dedicated departments and individuals do not deserve to be portrayed as they were in this unfair article and one would certainly hope that we are much smarter than to buy into the bear group “bull.”
I have written numerous articles successfully rebuking the mind-twisting lies that the bear group has published over the years, but now they have gone over the line with this ill-considered add.
You can easily evaluate the NJDF&W and the scientific work of their professionals, just logon to:
If you “really” want to make a comparison between the inexperienced rambling of the Bear Group and the NJDF&W that they attempted to slander, then take the time to review the “Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy” recently submitted to the DEP. Forty-five (45) pages of real scientific information backed up with accurate facts and figures. Oh, for sure the bear group will attempt to have you dismiss this report by using their same old “garbage” spin.
This report however, will easily show that the DFW is the only reliable source that should be responsible for managing wildlife. These professionals cannot allow emotions to interfere with science. They have proof to back up there management policies and they have the ONLY proven track record of “savinbears”; they actually DID, how? we had a black bear population in the 1970’s that was in danger of extinction, it was the DFW professionals that saved them, brought them back.
Do we want to maintain a healthy black bear population?
Do we want to prevent the black bear from threatening human life?
Do we want to stop the killing of domestic pets and livestock?
The only way this can be accomplished is to allow our professional DFW to manage wildlife again, manage the black bear population not manage attacks on their creditability. There responsibilities include the regulation and protection of fish and game for both recreational (hunting and fishing for sport and food) and commercial purposes. Recreational activities include; micro- management of wildlife populations, designating endangered species for protection, scientific research in areas like black bear issues, disease, non-hunting recreational opportunities like sight seeing, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, management of state and park lands including lakes, ponds and streams.
Just to set the record straight regarding salaries; The Fish and Game Council, that have the role of managing the states fish and wildlife resources, function as “UNPAID VOLUNTEERS” in coordination with the Commissioner and Director of DEP , NJDF&W.
A black bear hunt is now five (5) years overdue you cannot manage wildlife without experience but you can use “COMMON-SENSE” to understand that “any wildlife population cannot be left “uncontrolled” and to simply grow to whatever numbers they reach.
We do not have adequate forestland to support the current black bear population, we cannot make new forestland, and garbage control, important yes but garbage control is not population control and will not reduce black bear overpopulation, we need to implement hunting as an integral part of black bear population control and maintenance.
We should not overlook the right of sportsmen to pursue the legal right to hunt. We find hunters, in New Jersey coming under constant criticism; here again groups like the bear group and others have portrayed hunters as blood thirsty, trophy hunting slobs.
Hunting is one of the oldest activities of our planet, all through the different eras hunting has had a meaningful purpose. In the beginning it was all about food, later the raising of livestock placed hunting into an optional pastime where hunters could take to the woods to rekindle the heritage of hunting while still opting for the harvesting of their own food.
Today, hunting serves as a sport, family recreation, economic opportunities for many states, the only opportunity one has to harvest healthy, natural, non-hormone free food and! and! and! at the same time carry out the culling of wildlife to meet designated goals established by the professional wildlife biologists and proven members of the DF&W as deemed necessary for maintaining healthy game populations.
Remember, there is no successful sterilization method, birth control or any other option to hunting now or in our near future except; companies that come into a state or town and charge anywhere from $300.00 to $1000.00, per animal to reduce the population; is this not hunting? hunting where instead of picking up revenue from licensed hunters we pay for hunters to do the same work.
Therefore, until science produces a “pill” that can be taken to satisfy the daily nourishment requirements of meat, as chosen for food by 97% of our people, animals’ both wild and domestic, are here to meet our needs. How? well! the supermarket where someone does the work for us and it can be picked up already prepared to cook and eat or the hunt for those that wish to do it all on their own. In the USA we have the freedom to make the choice between the two.
Lastly; A message for Governor Christi and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin; on behalf of millions of non-hunting citizens that support hunting and the hunters that must carry out the task, for those of us that supported you because of your honesty and desire to take New Jersey to a new level in all areas, many far more important than a black bear hunt, we ask that you continue your support of our state DFW and that support should include allowing DFW to move ahead with black bear hunts and to put in place a fee for bear hunting, this is what every state in the U.S does.
The support should include preventing any emotional, inexperienced group to tie up our courts and waste taxpayers money with frivolous lawsuits aimed at delaying the process. These groups poke and hope at ways of keeping this an emotional issue and have done so under past Governors.
There should be some statement made from your offices that clearly dismisses the ad that was published by the bear group on 3/14/10, because this is not only a slanderous attack on the DFW, but on your administration as well. It is a misleading lie that is aimed at innocent, emotional people. The DFW must be defended as you would do for any worker subjected to unfounded accusations.
A black bear hunt in inevitable, the black bears have proven on their own that they are too many , they show no fear of humans and will continue to be a threat to humans as they break into houses, garages and vehicles to damage and destroy property, attack injure and kill domestic pets and livestock and continue to jeopardize human safety, until one day they finally seriously injure or fatally attack a human. Scare tactic; no, just the writing on the wall..
Black Bears and the Bear Education and Resource Group
Black Bears and HSUS
Well, it’s a new year and a new Governor and administration, everything has changed. Governor Chris Christie, “prior” to being elected made it quite clear that he would endorse a black bear hunt and is still in favor of one.
Déjà vu, you bet; because the animal-right/anti-hunting groups have nothing more to offer today than they did in the past; “same lies and non-sense” they presented to former Governor Corzine; “we don’t need a hunt we, need garbage control and to appoint non-hunters to the F&G”.Sure, Yup, that will stop the black bear population from increasing.
Imagine, after some of these groups waged a war on Governor Christi with ads showing bloody, dead bears and captions stating; “this will be the fate of “our” black bears if Chris Christi is elected”, are now looking for his support to stop another hunt.
Here is the difference this time around; Governor Christi is a “straight-shooter” he had the courage to take a stand, prior to the election, to state his support of a black bear hunt without worrying about “losing animal-right/anti-hunting “votes”.What does this mean?
Governor Christi does not have to play politics as did Governor Corzine
Governor Christi doesn’t owe the anti’s; they tried to keep him out of office
Governor Christi doesn’t owe the “hunters” because as the anti’s are always so quick to point out; “hunters make up less than 1% of New Jersey’s population.
Governor Christi just needs to rely on “proven science and professional biologists that do not and cannot allow “emotions” to play a role in wildlife management programs. Governor Christi does need to restore the creditability of the professional biologists and members of the State F&G, DF&W. These are the experts in the field of “Wildlife Management”, without them we not only have unsafe, human conflicts with bears, but the future of the black bear is at stake as well.
Governor Christi can accomplish this by having the DF&W/F&G/Biologists stand alone rather than reporting to the DEP.
Here in New Jersey we have some of the most dedicated, talented wildlife management personnel in our country, yet they are constantly criticized by the anti’s. We need to change this to give them the long overdue credit they deserve, we are proud of these people and a “handful” of anti’s should never have been allowed to downplay the work they do.
Just remember, as I have stated in so many of my OPEDS, (27) other states have large black bear populations and (26) of those states have “successfully” included hunting as the primary method of controlling black bear populations to a safe, coexisting number. New Jersey is the only state that has allowed “emotions” and “politics” to overrule wildlife science and stop the bear hunts. (Other than 2003 and 2005 when they clearly reduced black bear complaints in the year following those hunts).
So when Janet Piszar, director of the Bear Education and Resource Group and Heather Cammisa, state director for HSUS go back to the drawing boards they fall back on the same misleading and baseless facts they have presented over the years. Let’s look at some of these statements:
Janet Pizar: Bear Education and Resource Group
The Division of Fish and Wildlife manipulates policies and enforcement for the unstated purpose of promoting a hunt. DF&W is lax in enforcing laws that prohibit people from feeding bears-either intentionally by hand or inadvertently by leaving barbecue grills, bird feeders or full garbage bags outside their homes. She further states that F&W allowed problem bears to raid and pillage neighborhoods to reinforce the public impression that hunting was the solution. Pizar said, the state has not done enough to pursue nonlethal management. (ALL FALSE) Janet Piszar’s knowledge of wildlife management couldn’t fill a thimble, Pizar lives on a “one-way” street named “anti-hunter” and actually her stand in the end run will do more damage to the black bear than any hunt. The wildlife professionals of New Jersey, in cooperation with hunters, brought back the black bear; their continued, professional management is needed in order to maintain a healthy black bear population. Overpopulation is not healthy to humans or the bears.
Heather Cammisa: State Director for HSUS
We do not believe that hunting is an effective management tool to handle bear-human conflicts, “Most conflicts occur in urban and suburban areas because of the availability of food from trash cans and other sources, like bird feeders and compost piles. We believe the effective way of reducing conflict involves removing those food sources. (REMOVING FOOD SOURCES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REDUCING AND MAINTAINING THE BLACK BEAR POPULATION TO SAFE, COEXISTING NUMBERS)
Both groups continue to ignore the “real-problem” BEAR-OVER-POPULATION, unless the black bear population is reduced to a number that allows “safe-coexistence” with the human population and kept under control each year, none of the above matters.
In New Jersey, particularly in areas of Sussex, Vernon, West Milford and other towns developments border state hunting and fishing lands, as well as private properties where hunters are allowed to hunt as families, friends or hunt clubs. The overpopulated black bear, when in need of food travels into these areas. A hunt in the same areas will reduce the black bear population and “free-up” space in their own natural environment.
More space means more food available without the bears looking for supplements or snacking on garbage. Hunting is the most effective “adverse-conditioning” for black bears as they will quickly learn that “humans” present a real danger; TO THEM.
Speaking of garbage people do know that storing garbage is an important part of the management program, however, when the “overpopulated” black bear is determined to get food the “bear-resistant garbage cans” are garbage and the bears can easily drag them away and open them, one bear was seen jumping on the “yellow-cans” until the lid just popped off. When the garbage is stored in sheds or garages, they break down doors.
As for bird feeders, barbecue grills and compost piles, well this is a little more infringement on “human rights” than we should have to accept. Although people are working on these issues, many feel just as strongly about “bird-care” as do others about “bear-care”, many believing it is unfair to sacrifice bird feeding because we have too many black bears, remember; bird feed is the most widely sold feed nationwide and a popular pastime among nature lovers.
Cleaning grills, good for sanitary reasons, but when bears come on decks while the grills are still cooling down, or someone goes into the house for a few monents, “there are too many bears”.
The controversy should go the way of Governor Corzine, “AWAY”. This is not about hunters, trophy hunts, F&W telling (3 little bear stories), garbage, bird feeders or compost piles, IT IS ABOUT A STATE THAT HAS WAITED FAR TOO LONG IN ALLOWING THE ONLY NATIONWIDE, PROVEN METHOD OF CONTAINING AND MAINTAINING A BLACK BEAR POPULATION THAT ALLOWS THE SAFE COEXISTENCE WITH HUMAN POPULATION; HUNTING, HUNTING, HUNTING.
The result of this delay has led to the problems in other areas; (garbage, bird feeder destruction, etc) In this case the past administrations put the cart (garbage, etc) ahead of the horse (black bear population growth).
We need a black bear hunt this year, not extra reviews, public comments and when the anti’s fail again, lawsuits wasting the time of The New Jersey Courts and taxpayers money and doing nothing to solve overpopulation.
We need to recognize that it is not just the “hunters’ that need or want a black bear hunt, it is millions of “non-hunting” citizens that understand the purpose and success of hunting as a “wildlife management tool”. More importantly, it is “members of the DF&W, F&G, and Biologists that are professionals in this field using science, experience and education not emotions to make decisions.
Finally, let’s dispose of another myth; “the bears will be skinned for their hides and trophy mounts and the meat wasted because it is not wanted, cannot be butchered or is not good to eat.” There are butchers that will properly butcher bears for example;
Tom the Butcher Bear and Deer Processing
Washington, New Jersey
(908) 689-7440
Tom, will custom cut the bear, fully vacuum pack and offers smoked meat as well. He recommends for the best cooking and tasting, boneless steaks, roasts, stew and chop meat. Having prepared bears taken out of state, he says that the meat is excellent.
“By the way this goes for deer too as now some anti-hunters have found a quack doctor that supposedly conducted his own tests on venison and found lead in the meat from bullets, then claiming it unsafe to consume and further claiming that donating meat to the hungry is simply and excuse justifying hunting deer. WOW, can this be an anti-hunting Doctor? Reminds me of the movie, “My Cousin Vinnie” when he has a shimmy in the front end and a mechanic passing by says I know the problem “you got Mud in your tires”, “Mud in your tires? Says Vinnie, never heard of it.” Lead in your deer? Never heard of it either.
All the meat recalls we have had over the years have been from livestock, slaughtered livestock, not shot with a bullet.
When a deer butcher is processing a deer they look for obvious problems and when shot with a bullet the damaged area is cut away.
So I guess then that the anti’s have to give up their fight on banning bow hunting, no lead right?”
There are other butchers that will prepare bear, search the internet but do not believe that no one will butcher a bear, or that bear or deer meat is not fit for human consumption.
Do not let the opportunity to bring this problem under control slip away, those that understand the importance of a bear hunt cannot sit back we still need to let our voices be heard. Many believed that Chris Christi would never become Governor; Let the “silent majority” speak to Governor Christi again; let the Governor know you support the black bear hunt: Make it short “Just Say Yes for a Black Bear Hunt this year.”
Governor Christies’ office: (609) 292-6000
DEP Acting Commissioner Robert Martin: Phone (609) 292-2885 Fax (609) 292-7695
The black bears in New Jersey had been successfully preserved through the years as a result of efforts from the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife/Fish & Game Commission and the professional state biologists. Supporting and upholding these laws were the sportsmen of N.J., the very same “hunters” now accused by the anti’s of wanting to annihilate the black bear.
Since 2000 however, the efforts of NJF&W/F&G have been thwarted by animal-right/anti-hunting groups that have managed to turn black bear overpopulation into a political issue. This all started through the weakness of former Governor Whitman, whose last minute decision to stop the 2000 hunt laid the groundwork for the issues we are facing today.
On a national level, animal-right/anti-hunting organizations lost the majority of battles wherein they attempted to shift the responsibility of wildlife management from F&G professionals to politicians. Therefore, the anti’s honed in on New Jersey as a last battleground. They picked the right state where vote hungry politicians were always ready to jump into any arena that might lead to more votes.
It is an actual, documented fact that out of (27) states with large enough black bear populations to require “population-control” only New Jersey politicians have allowed inexperienced, emotional driven, animal-right/anti-hunting groups to interfere with the long-standing and successful population management of black bears made possible through “HUNTING”.
Now we have a new no-nothing group opening up shop under:
“Northern New Jersey Bear Alliance”
Their goal in a “nutshell” to dispel the myth of black bears being predatory or dangerous creatures. So this new organization starts off with lies and misleading information; same ole, same ole anti’s nonsense.
Here are some examples from their web information site:
The Controversy Continues:They, NNJBA, cite 1970 when the game authorities suspended bear hunting due to a diminished population Then just listen to this non-sense; For the next (33) years residents coexisted peacefully with what bears existed. In 2003 under pressure from hunting lobbyist organizations a hunt was approved.
“Well, of course people existed peacefully; you hardly saw a bear because they were growing in numbers but still had enough “then-undeveloped-land” to roam in peace.”
Hunters, hunters mind you, not the millions of non-hunting citizens from Wayne, Totowa, Morristown, Passaic, Bergen and now all of the counties in New Jersey, only hunters want you to believe that the current overpopulation is a “point-of-concern”. Another misconception, as currently millions of N.J. citizens understand “overpopulation dangers” and support a black bear hunt.
NNJBA states; the state (N.J.) has contracted a state university in PA. to conduct a population study, Well want to know why? Because the politicians and anti’s in New Jersey have so put down our own F&W professionals that any numbers NJF&G reports is quickly challenged by these groups and taken to court.
NNJBA states that regulated hunts has no effect in reducing incidents or encounters. This is a major outright, anti-hunting lie. Contact any of the (26) states with large black bear populations and find out what problems they would be facing today if they had allowed their black bear populations to grow to whatever number they could reach through the years.
Sport-Trophy- Recreational Hunting:
NNJBA, claims that modern weaponry has taken the actual “thrill” of the hunt out of the equation. “High-powered- recurve bows”; (no such weapon exists as a high-powered- recurve bow) in fact, the same poundage’s have existed since the recurve bows introduction), Compound bows, shotguns with scopes, crossbows give the hunter an advantage?
I believe there is some confusion on the author’s behalf here; so the NNJBA would rather see the old weapons used, that were less effective in many hands, rather than a modern weapon that enables culling of the animal quickly and cleanly, with the animal suffering as little as possible.
NNJBA further states that they have no opposition against an individual enjoying his sport of shooting, but its opposition is centered on the reasons why an animal’s life (bear-deer-turkey, etc (etc???) must be taken for “bragging rights”
So if I read through this confusion then; NNJBA is not against hunting as long as traditional hunting equipment is used and only small bears, deer and turkeys are harvested and they are carried out of the woods rather than being transported by an ATV or pick-up???
Well, let’s see that would pertain to about 10% of the hunters in N.J. as the majority hunt any size game, don’t use ATC’S or trucks in the woods and in fact these vehicles are not even allowed on the state lands.
A Changing Perception
NNJBA wants to convince the public that fear of a black bear is unfounded. The fact that a black bear has not killed a human in 110 years refutes this contention by proponents of a hunt, “they say.”
Well here we go again, 110 years, it was only 1970 when we had hardly any bears in N.J. and 110 years ago this was a state with vast forests and fewer people travelling about on horseback and horse drawn wagons, Wyatt Earp was still alive, come on; we all know that a 110 year history has absolutely no bearing on black bear activities taking place from 2000 to 2009 when overpopulation came into play.
In America we have learned to prepare for and avoid tragedies, not to ignore warnings like looking past the numerous black bear to human dangerous encounters, the documented and proven increases in all overall, intrusive, black bear behavior and instead consider only “meaningless statistics” from non-professional tree-huggers, that will result in some unsuspecting, mislead human to be seriously mauled or killed by a “2009” overpopulated black bear.
Look, this is no longer an issue of; No Feeding Bans, Trash Control, property bear-proofing and adverse-conditioning techniques through educational literature and leaflet handouts.
Almost everyone knows this now and in fact the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife has had this information posted on their website for years along with leaflet handouts as well.
Game over; none of this will reduce the current, black bear overpopulation problem, nor contain that population through the coming years.
The ignorance of these groups should be quite clear to even the simplest mind as they attempt to have people ignore the numbers; the continual rise in domestic and livestock attacks and killing, attacks on humans, human to black bear dangerous encounters, house break-ins and the overall increase in black bear complaints in general.
Twenty-six other states have successfully used hunting, many for decades, as the most effective method of black bear population control, it works, and they maintain a healthy number of black bears and reduce the dangers to humans to the lowest possible levels.
It is these animal-right/anti-hunting groups that pose the greatest danger for the New Jersey Black Bear; if they are not hunted to an acceptable population that allows the majority of black bears to enjoy the seclusion of forests that can support their existence, they will soon be regarded as “vermin” and this will have greater negative consequences for the black bear that hunting ever could.
Remember, no one, F&G, hunters or non-hunters supporting a black bear hunt would ever let the black bear be hunted to extinction, after all this is “2009” , it won’t happen.
Support a N.J. black bear hunt, we cannot allow another year of population growth without a tragedy to some human, now this is the plain and simple truth as supported by; “ABBA” Actual Black Bear Activity.
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.
The Need for a New Jersey Bear Hunt, Now
By Ed Cartier
Need For A Bear Hunt In NJ, Now
New Jersey last had a black bear hunting season in 2005. At that time, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) estimated the state’s black bear population to be 1,600 animals. During the six-day season that year, hunters harvested 298 bears, down from the 328 bears taken during the 2003 hunt. Since that last hunting season, New Jersey’s bear population has grown, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)—parent agency of the DFW—now reports that bears are present in every county in the state.
The range of New Jersey’s black bears has grown from a concentration in the northwest section of the state in the late 1990’s, predominantly in Sussex and Warren counties, to a distribution that now includes all but the state’s most densely populated urban areas. Bear populations have expanded to the point that they are encroaching upon suburban areas, and the state DEP reports having received 1,262 bear-related damage and nuisance complaints from Jan. 1 to July 20 of this year. The number of complaints has increased about 20 percent from the same time period in 2008.
In fact, the bear population density in parts of New Jersey, which is the number of bears per square mile, is higher than most states tolerate. According to Dr. Len Wolgast, who taught wildlife biology at Rutgers University for more than 34 years and is a member of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, the generally accepted optimum bear density is one bear per three square miles. In northwest New Jersey, the bear density is three bears per square mile. That translates to nine times the optimum density, and is the highest in the nation.
In an exclusive interview, Wolgast stated that New Jersey’s bear population is very healthy, with the state having trapped, tagged and released black bears weighing more than 700 pounds. He estimated that those same bears could weigh as much as 800 pounds as they begin to bed up for the winter. As a point of comparison, that is the weight of a medium-sized grizzly bear! He went on to say that the reproductive rate of New Jersey black bears is higher than the national average, resulting in an ever-expanding population.
When asked about over-population, Wolgast noted that black bears in New Jersey have exceeded the state’s “cultural capacity.” That is the capacity of the state to carry a species before significant problems arise between residents and members of that species. He stated that the bear population has created agricultural losses in areas including corn farming, fruit orchards, bee keeping, and farms that raise poultry and rabbits. He was very clear that it is detrimental to bears and people when bears are too comfortable around humans. Nuisance bears are shot, and residents are put at risk when bears invade homes and cars.
The Politics of Management
So, if the bears are doing well and obviously breeding and immigrating to the state, largely from Pennsylvania, why has there not been a black bear hunting season in New Jersey since 2005? The answer is simple: politics. Following the 2005 hunt, former DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, with the full support of Gov. Jon Corzine, ordered the DFW to develop a new Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy that had to be approved by the DEP commissioner. The black bear season would be governed by the findings of that policy. The ruling threw out the existing 2005 black bear policy, and the official policy reverted to the plan that was in place in 2000, which had no provisions for a bear season. Bowing to political pressure, no final policy has been issued to date, effectively blocking the possibility of any black bear hunting season.
In place of a hunting season, Jackson stated that non-lethal methods of bear management must be implemented and analyzed before allowing a hunt to proceed. The problem with that approach is that it does not work. When asked about population control, Wolgast dismissed outright the idea of non-lethal means as being effective in managing the bear population. He was very clear that hunting is the only way to maintain a balanced black bear population.
A study commissioned by the New Jersey DEP in 2009 regarding non-lethal means of controlling the black bear population stated, “Managing black bear populations using fertility control will be much more technically difficult and costly than in other wildlife species, such as deer and wild horses, where this approach has been successfully applied. This is a consequence of the difficulty of capture, lower density, and the variable and wide-ranging nature of bear movements. Fertility control is very unlikely to be a feasible means of managing black bear populations in New Jersey.”
The Push for a Hunt
With the failure of the present programs, pressure is growing from a number of sources to re-instate the bear hunt. A contingent of legislators, led by state Sens. Steve Oroho (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) and Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) and Assembly Members Alison Littell McHose (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) and Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon), are pressuring the governor to reverse the three-year-old policy of attempting to control the bear population with non-lethal means. They cite the high number of bear complaints and the dangers presented when bears become too accustomed to human contact.
“It’s time Governor Corzine put aside politics and his personal feelings about hunting and look at the bigger picture,” said Oroho. “This is a serious matter of public safety. Adults and children alike in our communities are literally under attack because the bear population is not being adequately controlled. It’s obvious this administration’s alternate bear management policies are not working.”
Perhaps the most dramatic example of how fearless bears have become of humans in New Jersey is the case of a Vernon man who had his sandwich stolen by a bear as he packed his car for a trip to New Hampshire. Coming up from behind, the bear knocked the man to the ground and stood over him, holding the sandwich in its mouth. Luckily the victim was able to drive the bear away with a few well-placed kicks before he could have been seriously hurt.
“The prospects for a human tragedy have never been greater, as aggressive bears are chasing children, knocking adults to the ground, and breaking into homes and garages,” said McHose. “Yet Governor Corzine refuses to take off his blinders. Instead of sitting back and hoping for the best, he should listen to the wildlife experts, study the scientific data, and take appropriate and responsible action.”
Chiusano said Corzine is allowing anti-hunting groups to dictate New Jersey’s black bear management policies, rather than listening to the state’s wildlife biologists, who have said a bear hunt is necessary.
“It’s clear Governor Corzine’s current bear management policies are an abject failure. But instead of implementing a reasonable and science-based policy to deal with the escalating bear crisis, it’s also apparent he is allowing animal rights and anti-hunting groups to dictate public policy to the detriment of public safety,” said Chiusano. “The governor needs to take this matter seriously and put it in the hands of wildlife experts where it belongs.”
There has been a push by hunting advocacy groups to re-instate the bear hunt as well. NRA backs a bear hunt in New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Safari Club International (SCI), and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance unsuccessfully filed suit in 2006 to overturn New Jersey’s bear-hunting ban. As recently as Oct. 13, SCI and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs again filed suit to force New Jersey to take action on black bear management.
On the grassroots level, a group of hunters have started a website called www.njbearhunt.com. The website not only supports the bear hunt, but also provides clear information on why the hunt is needed, explains the consequences of not establishing a season, and works to debunk the fallacies regarding the bear hunt that are spread by anti-hunters and uninformed members of the media.
A group has even been formed inside the New Jersey legislature to lobby for the hunt. Recognizing that New Jersey’s hunters, anglers and trappers are often opposed by vocal and well-organized anti-hunting forces, state Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) created the New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus (NJAHCC), hoping to give sportsmen a better voice in the legislature. The NJAHCC is an advocate of reinstating the bear hunt.
“What we’re having now is bears that are running the risk of starving and bears that are becoming a public safety issue. … These poor animals have less space to live in and less food to feed on,” Sweeney said.
The Future
The current policy of non-lethal means of population control has no track record of success and does nothing to deter bears from invading homes, cars and picnic areas. However, hunting is a sure way to create just the right kind of barrier between bears and humans. By actively pursuing the bears during an established season with defined bag limits, the animals will regain their natural fear of humans and will be more reluctant to engage people near their homes.
The DFW has long advocated for a bear season. Prior to being overturned by the state DEP, the original plans called for an annual bear hunt that would coincide with the state’s deer season. In fact, the current regulations tentatively provide for a bear season, in the event that a hunt is authorized. The Fish and Wildlife Digest states, “The black bear hunting season is closed until the DEP Commissioner approves a comprehensive black bear management policy. Should this policy contain provisions for a black bear season, information will be posted on Fish and Wildlife’s web site.”
In fact, the DFW has been very proactive in extending or establishing hunting seasons for over-populated or nuisance game animals. Witness New Jersey’s extended deer seasons, the areas where an unlimited number of antlerless deer may be taken, new rules allowing the use of crossbows and Sunday bowhunting, and the newly established season for feral hogs in Gloucester County. Only the politicians can answer why bears have been exempted from Fish and Wildlife’s recent pro-hunting policies.
What will it take to restart the black bear hunting season in New Jersey? One sure way is a change of governors. Corzine is up for re-election on Nov. 3, and both Republican candidate Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett support the hunt. Beyond using their votes to make a change in the state house, New Jersey hunters will have to rely on lobbying and communicating with their representatives, and generating more public awareness of the need for a bear season. It is unfortunate that tried and true wildlife management practices, science and logic seem to have no impact on policy makers.
Black Bear sightings continue to rise in N.J. and with it the danger to humans we still have politicians being influenced by animal-right and anti-hunting groups.
To make matters worst some newspapers are printing this misleading information. For example; June 24, 2009 a N.J. newspaper printed an editorial:
Public showing signs of being able to live with bears.
The bogus reason; something is different, only (6) bears have been euthanized this year. This compares too nearly 30 put down in 2008 and 18 in 2007. What, what the heck?
Surprise, the year is not over and in addition, there have been an increased number of bears hit by cars and killed instantly or died somewhere in the woods.
Of course, they do not comment on the increase of Category (1) bears incidents, the most dangerous, were up 2009 over the same time period for 2008 from 33 (2008) to 42 (2009).
Overall bear incidents to-date, grew from 307 (2008) to 396 (2009)
Ironically, on Friday, June 26, 2009 a man form Northern, N.J. the town of Vernon reported that he was attacked by a BLACK BEAR while packing his car for a business trip. He alleges that he had placed a sandwich in his trunk while loading other items and the bear suddenly appeared, knocking him to the ground and taking the sandwich. The man kicked at the bear that ran off to the side of his house. Unable to move for some time the man finally made it into the house. The police found the sandwich wrapper on the side of the house and pictures on the internet show severe facialabrasions and, knee, elbow and buttocks bruises.
Now the anti’s are questioning his story, including one former, relocated member of the North Jersey Bear Group who puts the anti-hunting spin on the story by stating “this story proves again that black bears are not dangerous to humans; because it didn’t kill the man and it is not a story about a bear attacking a man but attacking a sandwich.” (How many once-agains does it take to make a real?)
It would have been more appropriate to find out if the story were true before making such ludicrous comments.
If the story is true then it was a dangerous, Category 1 attack on a human and should concern the Governor and DEP. The newspapers then should be reporting this as a serious warning to others
Well, let’s assume for now that the story is true. For starters if a (300 lb +) black bear were to swipe a human the immense power of that blow would result in easily knocking down a human and causing the injuries as reported and shown in pictures.
If the story is true then this man did exactly what the animal-right and anti-hunting groups and “real-bear experts” suggest, fight him off.
The story was reported in a Middletown, New York newspaper one week before it was reported in New Jersey newspapers and the DEP is not yet considering this a Category 1 attack (which is defined as the most serious bear-human interactions and includes livestock kills, pet kills, vehicle entries, home entries, attacks on humans, unprovoked dog attacks and similar events.)
Now we have Lawrence Herrighty, Assistant Director of the F&W division stating that this is not “yet” being treated as a Category (1) attack on a human because he had no bruises, claw marks or scratches, or even a ripped shirt that indicates a purposeful attack by a bear.
Welcome to the political “dark-side” a new member? New rules; a black bear can push and shove cause physical damage to a human (just locate the photo’s on the internet, they are serious) and somehow this is not an attack because the bear just wanted to get at the sandwich?
Hopefully, the division is exercising a little caution by gathering all facts in order to “clearly” classify this as a Category (1) attack.
One can certainly understand an investigation to be sure this was a black bear attack and not a trip over a shoelace. However, it shouldn’t take too long to determine if the story is valid. It shouldn’t have taken a week for this story to even be acknowledged in a N.J. newspaper. Citizens depend on the news to make them aware of potential dangerous circumstances, it gives a chance to be more alert and avoid danger.
If it is true then this just adds to the recent, dangerous black bear activity reported so far in 2009. If it is falsethat still doesn’t reduce neither the danger nor the validity of already proven, increased black bear to human negative interactions.
So why does this continue? Because; there is still to much political interference with wildlife management, too much politicking within an area that requires professional Fish & Game biologists to determine the course of action to be taken.
Black bears; the states’ carrying capacity has been met, black bears cannot be allowed to multiply beyond this point, sightings are up, category (1) the most dangerous level is up, people are complaining all over the state as the black bears extend there roaming grounds.
The Governor is struggling to keep people working, keeping their homes and putting food on the table. I doubt if he sits down at the end of each day and thinks about putting up a tent in Sussex or staying over in a Vernon home to find out if the black bear is a problem.
The Governor certainly doesn’t have black bears near his home. No, he relies on his staff and the DEP and he doesn’t need a group of “yes” men afraid to ‘tell-it-like-it-is”; they are not doing their jobs.
New Jersey DEP and Governors office are allowing animal-right and anti-hunting groups to inundate them with false and misleading information under the pressure of political demise should they allow a black bear hunt.
Listen and read carefully; (27) other states with large black bear populations, many with a lot less black bears than N.J., use hunting as the most effective, proven method of black bear population control. There is no way that (27) states with successful track records are wrong and N.J. is right.
Each day, each month, each year this black bear population is allowed to grow the danger increases why? Just how does anyone with a brain and a little common-sense, really expect New Jersey to allow the black bear population to grow to whatever number? It cannot, they must be reduced and maintained at a safe level and hunting is the only proven method.
Here comes the redundancy: Twenty-seven other states have successfully accomplished this through hunting and they still maintain a substantial black bear population that can thrive in their own environment.
The Retired, Black Bear Groupie stated, “With everything going on in the world today, black bears are certainly the least of our problems”; REALLY?, I see them as an unnecessary addition to our problems and unlike the economy or war, a problem easily solved with a quick and proven remedy.
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.
The first and most important bit of “factual” information any New Jersey resident needs to know is;
“THERE ARE MORE BLACK BEARS THAN THE STATE’S HUMAN POPULATION CAN BEAR.”
The second most important bit of “factual” information is that some Animal-Right and Anti-Hunting groups have preyed upon New Jersey politicians by providing them with false and misleading information regarding hunting black bears. They have shifted the focus to politics and created the illusion that a black bear hunt is unpopular among voters.
The third most important bit of “factual” information is that serious black bear incidents went down the following years of the (2003) and (2005) hunt and drastically increased beginning in 2007 and more than doubled in the next (12) months of 2008 all because of canceled hunts.
Category (1) – Black Bears that are a threat to public safety and property; these are the most serious bear-human interactions and include livestock kills, pet kills, vehicle entries, home entries, attacks on humans, unprovoked dog attacks, and similar events.
Category (1) Incidents increased (+ 146%) with (112) incidents in 2007 to (276) incidents in 2008.
In all Categories 1, 2 and 3 the state’s black bear unit received (2814) calls from January 1, 2008 through December 20, 2008 an increase of (102%) from 2007 where (1395) calls were received for the same time period.
The fourth most important bit of “factual” information is that currently (27) states have a large enough black bear population to create a public safety concern. Of those (27) states (26) include hunting as the primary method of population control.Only New Jersey has political leaders challenging the professional biologists of the New Jersey Fish &Wildlife and Fish & Game by postponing and blocking recommended hunts required to reduce the black bear population to a safe level of co-existence between humans and the bears.
The Governors of these (26) other states are both Democratic and Republican. They all acknowledge and understand the emotions of those sincere people that have a problem with hunting in general; however, they trust and support the professional biologists of their Fish & Wildlife departments; they brush aside those animal-right and anti-hunting groups that use issues like black bear hunting as an agenda targeting hunting in general; they are not willing to jeopardize human safety in order to secure votes.
Wildlife management is a specializied profession and the experts in this field including certified biologists, have an obligation to “protect” wildlife while at the same time establishing legal limits and methods of population control through recreational hunting. Their job is not an easy one in New Jersey where the animal-right/anti-hunting groups have been able to use deceptive information to get the ears of vote hungry politicians.
Here is an example of just one of the recent typical misleading articles published by The Humane Society of the United States:
(1)
Hunting May Increase, Not Decrease, Human-Bear Conflicts
New Jersey hunting proponents claim that reducing the number of black bears will reduce human-bear conflicts. But a growing bear population doesn’t necessarily lead to more problems. Between 1985 and 2002, the estimated Minnesota bear population increased from 8,000 to 21,000 but complaints dropped from 2,859 to 625. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suggested a link between the drop in complaints and residents learning to live with bears and prevent more conflicts.
The Truth
Minnesota holds annual black bear hunting seasons to include; rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and bow/arrow. The following is the states reported numbers black bears harvested by hunters:
First line is the year, second lineis the number of bears harvested, and third line is the number of recorded nuisance complaints received. From 1987 to 1995 these were complaints examined on site while from 1996 to 2008 these were complaints handled by phone and other received.
The number of harvested bears varies based upon established quotas with weather conditions affecting harvest numbers in certain years.
The Humane Society then fails to mention that in (22) years Minnesota has allowed hunters to harvest 65,494 black bears while still maintaining a black bear population to a safe co-existing number. Nuisance complaints have been high in some years but from 2000 through 2008 they have been at a steady low.
Land development and housing as in every state has an impact on the number of complaints received, there will never be a time when any state that allows hunting will have no nuisance complaints.
Common sense should also enlighten us to two facts:
·What would the complaints be if 65,494 black bears were not harvested, plus newborns that would have drastically increased this number?
·With 65,494 black bears harvested Minnesota still maintains a healthy black bear population.
(2) New Jersey’s hunt targets the bears that are least likely to come into conflict with humans, because the hunt takes place far from inhabited areas.
Another misleading and false statement;Truth: New Jersey has more than 750,000 acres of public hunting lands of which thousands of acres border problem black bear areas. West Milford and Vernon and several other towns in Sussex and Warren counties have developments surrounded by these state lands. In addition, private hunting properties abound throughout the state also surrounding problem areas. A hunt would definitely include harvesting of substantial numbers of black bears that are causing damage and threats to human safety.
(3) The hunt may actually increase conflicts, since hunters are allowed to lure bears on non-federal lands with bait such as pastries and cooking grease. Habituating bears to human food sources teaches them to seek out homes, campgrounds and other human-related food sources.
Here we go again another false statement:Truth: The N.J. hunting regulations make it unlawful to bait bear and in fact since the bear season ran in conjunction with the whitetail deer season, it was illegal to even hunt over the remains of a field dressed deer as well as F&G considered this bear bait..
(4) New Jersey Hunters want a Trophy Hunt:
Truth: New Jersey would not be considered a “Trophy Hunting State” although there is no doubt there are some large black bears in N.J. the majority are not in a trophy class, there are just too many bears and size is not the common denominator for culling the population.
There are only two issues that the animal-right/anti-hunting groups are correct in stating and it should be pointed out that the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife had pointed out these same rules long before the anti’s plagiarized them from the F&W pamphlets and website:
·Secure Garbage in some form of bear-resistant garbage can.
·If possible, keep garbage in until garbage day.
(We would also suggest drilling a one inch hole in the top of the garbage can lid and line the top of the garbage with a few paper towels, then soak the towels with ammonia when putting the garbage out for pick-up. It is important to use the paper towels as they will contain the ammonia longer and prevent the garbage pick-up people from being sprayed with ammonia.)
As for adverse conditioning, once the black bear is hunted annually they will very quickly become ADVERSELY conditioned to avoid humans.
The harvesting of bears will open up their own natural habitant giving them more room to roam in the environment they prefer.
No matter what anyone feels about hunting, it is legal, it is effective and it the only proven way to reduce and maintain a safe, co-existing number of black bears to humans.
With all do respect to the sincere people that simply do not like the killing of any animal you have to look at the facts and the need to protect human life before wildlife. Harvesting and consuming wild game is a right and choice of a free society and whether an individual prefers to shop the super market for slaughtered meat or hunt their own, in fact more healthy, non-processed meat, is not wrong, it is a right for those who wish to do so.
New Jersey, like the rest of the world is going through a financial crisis, we do not need to waste money on “stall tactics” for stopping a black bear hunt while asking state workers to work less hours and cutting jobs as well.
If we do what is right, what (26) other states do successfully, we can reduce the danger to humans from overpopulated black bears and instead of wasting money earn some through black bear hunting permit fees.
We need a hunt this year the black bear population cannot be allowed to continue growing as this will keep forcing the expansion of their travel and need for food. All the warning signs are here, and we will be in for some serious danger if we allow non-sense to override common-sense and politics to overrule the professional biologists we have in place to perform the task.
It is not only hunters that support a black bear hunt it is millions of non-hunting citizens that recognize and respect the right to hunt and the proven effect of hunting on controlling wild game populations.
Let’s face it (26) other states cannot be wrong and New Jersey the only one right.
New Jersey is a battleground state for animal-right/anti-hunting groups they are pouring money and time into this fight with no regard at all for human safety.
Governor Corzine, must hear from the other side, we must get his attention so he can take the time to research this further. The Governor speaks to the hard decisions to be made regarding budget cuts and worker time reductions and layoffs, he understands this perfectly clear. Once he fully understands the problem and remedy through hunting, he will be able to suck it up and make the right decision; allow the F&G experienced professionals to handle the problem they are paid to do.
·Contact the Governor (609) 292-6000 or e-mail through the Governors state website.
·Contact Acting DEP Commissioner Mark Mauriello (609) 292-2994
“Simply state that you support a hunt to reduce the states black bear population and oppose the misleading tactics of the animal-right/anti-hunting groups that try to keep this a political issue rather than professional wildlife management as is practiced successfully in (26) other states.”
Let’s start off with the word “Dilemma” “any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives”, any serious problem.
A few days ago Governor Corzine visted Sussex at the Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs. According to Brad Abelow, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Corzine attended the function, “From the Governor’s perspective, he’s looking for every opportunity to talk with people and hear from people now about what’s going on. What impact the economy is having. He said that that included things the state can do to help and where government can get out of the way”. Wow imagine if that were true?
When reminded that he was about (6) miles from New Jersey’s major black bear problem area and why he was personally opposed to a bear hunt, he responded, “Well I think that I have read that a lot of this problem, if you would call it that, is something that can be resolved by better game management, waste management and education. And there is a real argument about whether the bear hunt will be effective”.
The Governor was also asked if his stance would change in the event a young Halloween trick-or-treater were attacked or even killed by a bear. He responded by saying that the questionwas hypothetical.
As he was leaving the press conference, Corzine also said that questions about the state’s black bears are best answered by the DEP Commissioner, Lisa Jackson, who was also at the meeting. Corzine said he would check on her availability to speak with reporters. After (20) minutes, Jackson did not come to meet with reporters and the press conference ended.
Dilemma:any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives.Solution: stick to inaccurate information, discount “hypothetical” situations, avoid any further questions by passing the now famous, “Wilson Black Bear Political Football” to the DEP Commissioner, who was told to “go-long” and ran out of the end zone into the waiting limo to disappear.
Many citizens of this black bear area are just amazed that a Governor can actually travel to any area to see how things are going then simply dismiss a “Dilemma”: any serious problem, like the black bear Dilemma, with a record year of intrusive activity capped off by (56) house break-ins and over 1400, complaints including property damage, garage and shed break-ins, domestic pets and livestock being killed and “tax paid for property and taxpayers/voters being threatened and losing the “human-right” to live in a safety zone of their own property and houses.
The question regarding the Halloween trick or treater may not have been the proper question to kick off a discussion, the real question is; “Governor Corzine you traveled to our area to find out how things were going; not good Governor where we are living in an economically tested time like every other part of the country, but we have one additional “Dilemma”, we have houses being broken into (in case you haven’t had the time to read (56) , domestic pets and livestock being killed, complaints have tripled since 2005 the last year of a hunt in which complaints and intrusive activity went down.
Our families, mothers and children are living in fear each day as the “overpopulated”, not “overfed” black bear has totally disrupted our right to human rights and safety.
Now Governor can you tell us why when you have acknowledged you are not an expert in Wildlife Management and your new DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, has no track record or experience at all in Wildlife Management, you are listening to animal-rights/anti-hunting groups rather than the experienced, N.J. Fish &Wildlife professional biologists who successfully brought back the black bear in N.J.”? More importantly, why do two inexperienced people, yourself and Lisa Jackson, not only go against the F&W but go against (26) other states, including our bordering states o N.Y. and PA. whose Governors and DEP have listened to and allowed the successful management of black bears by their F&W. for decades?
Governor, this is not a “Trophy Hunting” issue as you and Lisa Jackson have been mislead to believe, it is not a “garbage control and/or education issue, it is an “overpopulation” issue and their is only one proven, successful remedy; a legal controlled hunt like took place in N.J. 2003 and 2005.
Reduce the number of bears, continue to do so annually and the population will drift back to the forests where they belong and want to be. Why? Because they will have more room to roam their own natural habitant and the hunting will also serve as conditioning AS THE MAJORITY OF PROBLEM AREAS BORDER STATE AND PUBLIC FORESTS.
Only then Governor, will “trophy photo takers” be the losers because it is these groups that have been feeding bears and encouraging them to get closer to humans.
Want some proof? Ask to see a rerun of the so-called, ‘Bear Whisperer” Susan Kehoe, aired on Inside Edition’s 10/02/08, who actually is accused of and being fined for feeding black bears in her backyard, for why? To take pictures of bears in her yard and actually near her seeking some sort of “lame” recognition as the “Bear Whisperer”. When her real handle should be, “the bear nut”.
Read the review from experts saying what she was doing was “extremely dangerous” and not only to her self but by misleading any watchers into believing that the black bear can be “played-with”.
Dilemma; Governor and it is yours and Lisa Jacksons, you can own up to the current situation created by inexperienced, emotional, head cases turning wild game management into politics and then allow the F&G to do their jobs and engage legal hunting that has proven successful in N.J. in 2003 and 2005. Or you can continue to ‘dance” as you and Lisa Jackson done in Sussex until one day the “hypothetical” becomes the “inevitable truth” and someone is seriously mauled and/or killed by the states current and growing overpopulated black bear.
Dilemma:black bears, True, proven and only nationwide solution: Legal, controlled hunting, regulated by the states’ F&W professionals.
Anyone reading this contact your Senators, Congressman, Governor and DEP. The Governor and DEP do not have the facts they only have the animal-rights/anti-hunting voices to go on and although a minority, they are louder at this time.
Well, it took (5) long years; millions of non-hunting citizens that understand and support hunting, a Governor that does not put politics ahead of human safety, nor allows emotional rhetoric to overrule professional biologists and Fish & Game experts but finally; the long overdue hunt is now scheduled for this year. 
Black Bear sightings continue to rise in N.J. and with it the danger to humans we still have politicians being influenced by animal-right and anti-hunting groups.
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 