Policy awaits the approval of DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. If approved, it will be the first N.J. bear hunt in 5 years
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Patrick Carr, supervising wildlife biologist, NJ DFW, speaks during a New Jersey Fish and Game Council meeting in March.TRENTON — The New Jersey Fish and Game Council today unanimously approved a new bear hunt for December as part of a new management policy for the bruins.
The policy now awaits the approval of the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. His office said he will review the public comments on the proposal before making a final decision by early August.
If approved, it will be the first bear hunt in the state in five years.
Unlike hearings in years past, today's hearing was subdued without crowds of protestors. Only three opponents of the hunt spoke out against the policy as the council and others spoke about the need to reduce a growing black bear population.
"The bear population has increased and the human population increased, and we are heading on a collision course," said Councilman Len Wolgast.
A 2009 DNA study by East Stroudsburg University concluded that more than 3,400 black bears roam a corner of the state north of Route 80. Biologists contend well-fed, female black bears in the mid-Atlantic region are more reproductive than elsewhere in North America, averaging three cubs per litter.
The DEP contends complaints about black bears ranging from livestock kills to bears walking past homes have increased dramatically since the last hunt in 2005. One prior hunt was conducted in 2003. In 2006, Gov. Jon Corzine banned bear hunts. Gov. Chris Christie supports the hunts.
Patrick Carr, a senior biologist with the DEP, said 20 percent of the bears shot in the past two hunts have been "problem bears." They wore tags indicating they were previously trapped and moved from an area by biologists.
Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club told the council that the state has failed to properly finance non-lethal solutions, such as controlling trash that attracts bears, and educating the public on ways to avoid encounters.
"The most important part of this policy is left underfunded ... and all we have left, is the hunt," said Tittel.
Janet Piszar, head of the Bear Education And Resource group, said the state has failed to enforce a ban forbidding people from feeding black bears.
"Over the past five years, 21,463 citations were written by the bureau of law enforcement, but only nine were on the black bear feeding law, said Piszar.
The hunt, if approved, will involve licensed hunters using shotgun slugs or muzzle-loading rifles over a six-day period beginning December 6.
It will be held in a region north of Route 78 and west Route 287, which is where past hunts were held and includes the area where the DNA study was conducted.
Previous Coverage:
• N.J. wildlife officials are expected to re-establish 6-day bear hunt
• Environmental department holds N.J. bear hunt hearing
• N.J. black bear hunt is approved by environmental commissioner
• N.J. bear hunt faces potential lawsuit from opposition group
• Scientists say N.J. black bear population can't be controlled without hunt