Today, a broad coalition of conservation, animal welfare, faith, and student groups urged the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to scrap agency plans to expand trophy hunting of black bears across the state. The coalition – led by Action for Animals, Animal Emancipation of San Luis Obispo County, Big Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States, and Los Padres Forestwatch and joined by more than three dozen national and California organizations – stated two recent proposals by the CDFG would permit hunters to kill an unlimited number of bears across California and allow trophy hunting of bears in San Luis Obispo County for the first time. In an April 8th letter to the agency, the organizations said the bear hunting proposals were "misguided, unnecessary, and scientifically indefensible."
Click here to watch video of bear hunt. (WARNING: Video is very disturbing.)
"The California Department of Fish and Games plan to expand bear hunting is bad news for bears. Instead of letting trophy hunters turn these magnificent animals into throw rugs by the fireplace, the agency should vigorously protect bears," said Brian Vincent, Big Wildlife’s Communications Director.
Last month, the CDFG announced sweeping changes to bear hunting regulations, including lifting all numerical limits to bear hunting and opening a new bear hunt in San Luis Obispo County. Previously, the agency had closed bear season after 1,700 bears were reported killed. The CDFG now plans to lift this "closure mechanism" and permit an unlimited number of bears to be killed during hunting season, even though thorough analysis has not been conducted to determine the impacts this action may have on bears across the state. The agency has also proposed hunting of bears in San Luis Obispo County for the first time, which could negatively impact the health and stability of this subpopulation of black bears. That hunt could begin this summer, with more than 50 bears hunted each year.
"The Fish and Game Department has jumped the gun on this proposal," said Jeff Kuyper, Executive Director of Los Padres ForestWatch. "Not only does the agency lack the resources needed to control illegal poaching in the state, but it also lacks the basic scientific data needed to properly evaluate the impacts of bear hunting along California's central coast. Fish and Game is not acting in the best interests of our state's wildlife."
The organizations said they opposed expanding bear hunting for a number of reasons:
· The trophy hunting of bears puts populations at risk, ignoring the ecological value of these animals. Bears often scavenge for food, playing an important role in recycling carrion. Along salmon spawning streams, bear scat and the remains of fish carried into the woods contribute to the nutrient cycle in old-growth forest.
· The CDFG proposals fail to assess the impacts of poaching. Illegal killing of bears has increased nationwide, fueled by a booming international market in bear parts. Poaching of wildlife has become epidemic in California. Violations rose from 6,538 in 2003 to 17,840 in 2007. Yet, the state has fewer than 200 active-duty game wardens patrolling 100 million acres. The coalition said it makes no sense to expand hunting opportunities when state wildlife law enforcement capabilities are so hampered.
· Hunting black bears is cruel, unethical, and environmentally harmful. In California, black bears can be legally chased by hounds, treed, then shot by hunters. Hounds have been known to pursue bears with cubs, increasing the risk cubs could be separated from their mothers, then orphaned. It is not uncommon for hounds to maim bears, especially cubs, and even more common for bears to maim or kill an entire pack of dogs. In addition, hounds may pursue non-targeted animals, including imperiled species. Bears can also be killed with bow and arrow, which studies reveal produce an unacceptably high wounding rate.
· Attempts to initiate a bear hunt would be reckless due to the indeterminate demographics of the area’s black bear population. The CDFG conducted a two-year study on the San Luis Obispo County bear population. While that study – which involved hanging cans of fish from tree limbs – may indicate where some bears are located, it is hardly a scientifically credible method for determining the number of bears and the composition of the bear population in the county. Other methods, such as radio telemetry and DNA analysis of hair or scat, are far more reliable for determining bear populations.
"Why is the California Department of Fish and Game considering expanding bear hunting when the state doesn't have nearly the resources to enforce hunting regulations and wildlife protection laws?" asked Peggy Koteen, Director of Animal Emancipation of San Luis Obispo County.
"The proposed black bear hunt in San Luis Obispo County is strictly a trophy hunt for heads and hides. Hunting will not reduce bear-human conflicts and research reveals that as the number of bears killed by hunters increases, the number of conflicts with bears increases accordingly," said Megan Sewell, Deputy Manager, Wildlife Abuse Campaign of The Humane Society of the United States.
For more information and to learn what you can do go to: Big Wildlife
###
Groups on the April 8th letter include: Action for Animals • All for Animals, Inc. • Animal Emancipation • Animal Perspective • Animal Protection and Rescue League • Animal Switchboard • Animal Welfare Institute • Bear League • Big Wildlife • Born Free USA • California Church IMPACT • California Federation for Animal Legislation • Center for Biological Diversity • Chico For Animal Rights • Contra Costa Humane Society • Earth Island Institute • Environment in the Public Interest • Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo • Environmental Defense Center • Environmental Protection Information Center • Grizzly People • Green Party of San Luis Obispo County • In Defense of Animals • Kind Planet • Klamath Forest Alliance • Last Chance for Animals • League of Humane Voters, California Chapter • Los Padres ForestWatch • North County Humane Society • Orange County People for Animals • San Diego Animal Advocates • San Diego Support Group ~Animals Asia Foundation • Sequoia ForestKeeper • Sierra Club - Solano Group • The Humane Society of the United States • Ventana Wilderness Alliance • Wildlife Alive •