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As a member of the state Fish and Game Council, I'd like to respond to the the June 1 article, "More bear sightings, fewer problems across the state."

The claim that there has been a decline in the most dangerous types of bear incidents attributable to the state's non-lethal bear-management program is not supported by fact. Bear incident reports compiled by the Department of Environmental Protection through May 20 of this year indicate that the most serious complaints (Category I) actually increased by 14.5 percent compared with the same period last year. These complaints include home entries and attempted entries, livestock and pet kills, vehicle entries and aggressive bear behavior.

The author also mentioned that only six bears have been euthanized for threatening or dangerous behavior this year compared with 30 last year. This is not a valid comparison. The actual number of bears euthanized through May of this year was the same as last year. Since many of the recent reported bear incidents were of a very serious nature, such as entering homes and killing livestock, it is likely that additional bears will have to be euthanized through the summer and fall. Additionally, the total number of sightings and damage and nuisance complaints recorded by the DEP exceeds the totals recorded last year for the same period.

Public education, adverse conditioning, enforcement of the ban on feeding bears and bear-proofing garbage containers are important non-lethal approaches to minimizing bear-human conflicts. However, these approaches have not reduced an already-high level of bear-human conflicts or controlled the increasing bear population in northwestern New Jersey.

DAVID BURKE

Galloway Township

3 comments:

• bigjack609 (55) posts 8:18 pm

  It seems that the AC press has quite a few lefties and peta types on the pay roll.It is just a matter of time until some one gets mauled or worse.We need to have the bear hunt reinstated,I think the idiot's in trenton should talk to more then just a few people who want favors done for their votes.Of course you can still buy your bear licence and bounus tag even though you can't hunt bear in NJ,just another way for the state to take your money and give nothing in return.REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER TO VOTE THEM ALL OUT AND START FRESH.Who knows it may be a little better.

• todfiat (0) posts 1:06 pm

  I never knew Jimmy Buffet was mauled by a bear while in concert at Boardwalk Hall. Mirabile dictu! I'd say it's high time to cull the bear herd, or porvide free bear mace to concert-goers at Boardwalk Hall.

• Notamused (97) posts 9:40 am

  Any questions?

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