To Hunt (Bears in NJ) or Not To Hunt, that is the Question

[JAK]

It is rather strange isn't it. Empathy and apathy are too sides of the same coin in a way, because you can't be everywhere or all things at once. Just thinking about it would drive me crazy, if I gave a damn. The best I can do is go from one whim to another, from time to time. Let a bumble bee out of the house without killing it the other day. Yeah that oughta be enough to channel flick past the save-a-child ads for a week or two.

[Harrison Bergeron]

When people are seeing (and being harassed by!) bears in their back yards, then obviously there are too many bears and not enough hunters.

There wouldn't be so many bears in the first place if there weren't humans for them to sponge off of. So unless you are willing to remove yourself from the human race for the sake of controlling the bear population, the only solution is to hunt them. Fortunately, by an amazing coincidence, many humans are excellent hunters, so even if you don't want to kill one yourself, someone else will be more than happy to take care of it for you -- so long as some misinformed bear hugger doesn't get in their way.

Has anyone ever thought about what great contribution bears actually make to the environment, anyway? They're lousy predators and do nothing towards controlling the overpopulation of game animals, like deer. In the wild, when there aren't any humans to sponge off of, they get by sponging off the real predators by stealing their kills.

I agree that bears are interesting enough to keep a few around in the back woods, but when it gets to the point where they're coming out of the woods to audition for Jackass with a YouTube trampoline video, then it's time to turn the hunters loose!

[rickb]

While I don't discount the possibility that last post might be right in the end, here is another take which I think is at least as well informed, for those who are not inclined to discount the US Humane Society out of hand. Link is here: http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_...ar_population/



Black Bears and People in New Jersey


New Jersey is an example of what can happen when a human population explosion collides with a rebounding bear population. The state also has the potential to be a model for peaceful human-bear coexistence.

How Many Bears? How Many People?
In recent decades, New Jersey's bear population slowly recovered from the devastating effects of habitat loss and over-hunting. The exact size of the current population isn't known because, although black bears are primarily found in north and central New Jersey, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has only performed population studies in the western and eastern regions. In 2003, the agency estimated these regions contained 1490 bears.
Since scientists simply don't know how many bears there are in New Jersey, there is no way to determine how many bears can be killed without jeopardizing the black bear population. The species is late to mature and reproduces slowly, so it is especially vulnerable to over-hunting.
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United States. Between 1950 and 2000, the population nearly doubled to reach 8.4 million. As development eats away at black bear habitat, the number of reported human-bear conflicts has risen. These conflicts appear to be largely property related, categorized by the Division of Fish and Wildlife as "nuisance" complaints.

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 most conflicts.
New Jersey's hunt targets the bears who are the least likely to come into conflict with humans, because the hunt takes place far from inhabited areas. The state Department of Fish Wildlife has the authority to kill individual bears that repeatedly cause damage or exhibit fearless or aggressive behavior towards humans.
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.

How to Reduce Human-Bear Conflicts
Residents can keep everybody safe by taking a few precautions. The most important thing you can do is eliminate any outdoor food sources:

• use a bear-proof garbage can (the Bear Resource Group has a Crittercan program, and some communities will subsidize your purchase)
• if possible, keep garbage indoors until trash day
• don't put food scraps in your compost pile
• collect fruit from trees once it is ripe
• thoroughly clean barbeques
• don't feed your pets outdoors

If approached by a bear, act aggressively—make noise and throw objects—and never turn your back or run. Negative experiences with humans will teach bears to avoid areas where humans dwell. To learn more about living peacefully with bears, visit our Solving Problems with Black Bears page.

[sheepdog]

we have bears in our yard about ever three years, usually in the spring. They pillage the bird feaders, eat the spawning suckers out in the creek, put on a good show and leave quietly. If they become a nuisance we shoot them with paint ball guns and chase them away. There is also the old fill a baloon up with amonia and water, cover with honey and hang high enough for the bear to reach up for it on his hind legs.

[Tilly]

When people are seeing (and being harassed by!) bears in their back yards, then obviously there are too many bears and not enough hunters.

There wouldn't be so many bears in the first place if there weren't humans for them to sponge off of. So unless you are willing to remove yourself from the human race for the sake of controlling the bear population, the only solution is to hunt them. Fortunately, by an amazing coincidence, many humans are excellent hunters, so even if you don't want to kill one yourself, someone else will be more than happy to take care of it for you -- so long as some misinformed bear hugger doesn't get in their way.

Has anyone ever thought about what great contribution bears actually make to the environment, anyway? They're lousy predators and do nothing towards controlling the overpopulation of game animals, like deer. In the wild, when there aren't any humans to sponge off of, they get by sponging off the real predators by stealing their kills.

I agree that bears are interesting enough to keep a few around in the back woods, but when it gets to the point where they're coming out of the woods to audition for Jackass with a YouTube trampoline video, then it's time to turn the hunters loose!

I was going to keep out of this, but since I lived in NJ for 25 years and have happily seen many, many a bear while hiking there, this paticular post caught my interest.

First off, you call those against the bear hunt (before derisively called them 'bear huggers') misinformed. But then you go on to say that the only reason that the bear population is increasing is because the bears are 'sponging off humans.' Is this true? Is this THE reason that bear numbers are increasing? You have proof of this? I would like to see it, actually.

Also I question the notion that species are only important to keep around, or not hunt into extinction, if they are 'interesting' enough. Is this a good model? Would it be better if black bears were more like their Grizzly cousins, as 'better' predators? Is it really true that black bears, who are indeed a native species of NJ, are not important to the ecosystem? Are they damaging it because they don't hunt deer?

Also, there are hardly any 'real predators' in NJ for bears to 'sponge' of off, anyway. No big cats, no grizzlies, wolves, etc. There are plenty of animals that 'sponge' off of other animals kills, ravens/vultures for instance. I would like to see some evidence that scavengers are indeed bad for the environment.

I'm not going to say whether or not I'm for or against the bear hunt, but this post, to me, is full of fallacy.

[General Fireball]

The Humane Society info is a wee bit funny. Pick fruit once it is ripe? Lemme tell ya, the bears don't care if it's ripe. Or if it even produces good fruit. Chokecherry, crabapple . . . I have had bears climb through and systematically demolish these trees on my property, making em look they were through a hurricane. It doesn't really bother me, but seriously--real advice would be: cut down anything on your property that produces any fruit or berry in any marginal way edible, whether planted by you or wild. Then abandon any aspirations of every growing such a thing again. Also, abandon any notion that you will ever feed the birds again, except when the average temperature goes below freezing. And for the record: bears are definitely the biggest scroungers out there. They will eat anything, they're the Andrew Zimmern of the animal world. One big plus: in the old days, a dead deer would stay on the side of the road forever, till it was rotten and bloated. Now, gone in a day or two. Thank you, Mr. Bear.

[sheepdog]

The Humane Society info is a wee bit funny. Pick fruit once it is ripe? Lemme tell ya, the bears don't care if it's ripe. Or if it even produces good fruit. Chokecherry, crabapple . . . I have had bears climb through and systematically demolish these trees on my property, making em look they were through a hurricane. It doesn't really bother me, but seriously--real advice would be: cut down anything on your property that produces any fruit or berry in any marginal way edible, whether planted by you or wild. Then abandon any aspirations of every growing such a thing again. Also, abandon any notion that you will ever feed the birds again, except when the average temperature goes below freezing. And for the record: bears are definitely the biggest scroungers out there. They will eat anything, they're the Andrew Zimmern of the animal world. One big plus: in the old days, a dead deer would stay on the side of the road forever, till it was rotten and bloated. Now, gone in a day or two. Thank you, Mr. Bear.

you can keep them away and teach them to fear your area. It takes some work, try the water baloon filled with amonia and water, suspend it high enough that the bear has to reach up for it. Cover it with honey . They get a face full of that and they usually don't come back.

[booger]

Because you will never run into a bear that will share his or her food with you on the AT. YOU WILL RUN INTO HUMANS THAT WILL. Also, I've never gotten a ride into town by a bear. I have gotten rides into town by humans. And bears have been known to crawl under shelters for hibernating in the winter. They crap and stink up the shelter. Humans only crap in and under shelter rarely.

Good points, I would add that when a bear shows me his/her deed to my property or at least pays my property taxes, I will leave, otherwise I reserve my right to protect my property from all intruders

[canoehead]

"sheepdog try the water baloon filled with amonia and water,"

Might this blind the animal if it gets into their eyes? and who's to say it's gonna be a bear breaking that balloon.
You have to make your area bear proof and yes that means no bird feeders, trash, fruit trees & bushes or ANY food source.. Bears a creatures of habit and will remember where they got their last meal and almost always goes back to get more.. just sayin..
I am a Ranger at a scout camp and deal with this every year. the answer is.
PREVENTION.

[sheepdog]

"sheepdog try the water baloon filled with amonia and water,"

Might this blind the animal if it gets into their eyes? and who's to say it's gonna be a bear breaking that balloon.
You have to make your area bear proof and yes that means no bird feeders, trash, fruit trees & bushes or ANY food source.. Bears a creatures of habit and will remember where they got their last meal and almost always goes back to get more.. just sayin..
I am a Ranger at a scout camp and deal with this every year. the answer is.
PREVENTION.

You hang it so only a bear can get at it, it does no permanent harm to the bear and it is effective. I learned this while living in Alaska where we had lots of problem black bears.

[jersey joe]

Bear hunt starts in NJ tomorrow.
6,500 permits issued.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/berg...under_way.html

[Oogie Boogie]

Good points, I would add that when a bear shows me his/her deed to my property or at least pays my property taxes, I will leave, otherwise I reserve my right to protect my property from all intruders

Did you ever stop to think a little less selfishly and consider that the bears have been living on these lands for many thousands of years longer than anyone whose skin isn't red? Or are you just so stuck in your selfish little today's picture that you actually believe what you just said, and expect others to do the same? Come on, seriously, you choose where you live. A bear is just following food.

Who got the bright idea that ammonia in the eyes won't permanently blind a bear? Have any of you ever gotten even a drop of ammonia in your eye? Before you put up a balloon of it and bait a bear into torture and possible permanent blindness in one or both eyes, you should try it on yourself.

Here's some info on ammonia: http://www.health.state.ny.us/enviro...monia_tech.htm

[Luddite]

The Humane Society info is a wee bit funny. Pick fruit once it is ripe? Lemme tell ya, the bears don't care if it's ripe.

I think what they meant was get your fruit off of the tree as soon as possible.