Governor Bears Forward with Hunt Despite Panel's Vote Against It |
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August 26, 2004
ANNAPOLIS—A committee of Maryland lawmakers on Wednesday, August 25, voted decisively against a controversial plan to initiate the state's first black bear hunt in 51 years. Not long after the vote, however, Governor Robert Ehrlich dismissed the panel's recommendation, indicating through a spokesman that the killing will likely commence this fall.
After several hours of searching debate, members of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review voted 12-7 against the hunt proposed to curb the state's population of the black bears, prompting cheers from the dozens of animal welfare advocates on hand.
"A civilized society looks out for its elderly, infirm, needy and young. And its animals," said Barbara Frush, a Prince George's County delegate who testified against the hunt prior to the committee's vote.
The celebration was regrettably short-lived.
"There were no arguments today that haven't been heard before," an Ehrlich spokesman told The Washington Times after the vote. "Barring some material change in the science, I don't believe the governor would reverse his decision."
The Political Solution
Ehrlich's decision carries the weight of binding authority, leaving opponents of the hunt with little recourse other than the courts. The governor's unyielding stance represents a coup for sportsmen groups and the National Rifle Association, which lobbied hard for the hunt. However, it flies in the face of public sentiment, sound science, and common sense. (Lend your voice to the debate; tell the governor to halt the hunt.)
Animal advocates, hunters and assorted members of the public—many wearing stickers and buttons decrying the hunt—packed the stately meeting room inside a House office building. Paul Peditto, director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service, provided background information about the bear situation. Peditto pegged the state's black bear population at around 500, even though the Department of Natural Resources has cited numbers in the 266-437 range.
While conceding that black bears are "generally docile and shy and keep to themselves," Peditto tried to convince the review panel that this proliferation of bears has led to a dangerous increase in conflicts with humans. His argument came complete with a graphic description of Mennonite posses driving critters out of corn fields.
As a result, Peditto endorsed the plan by the Black Bear Task Force, which in 2003 issued a report recommending a variety of tactics to manage the animals, including a regulated hunt to target "nuisance" bears. The DNR has settled on a strategy to grant licenses for hunters to bag 30 bears. How sportsmen would distinguish between nuisance and non-nuisance bears was unclear.
The Real Solution
Peditto was clearly in the minority during Wednesday's hearing. A number of animal welfare advocates criticized the proposed hunt and offered alternative ideas. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, emphasized that shooting 30 bears randomly will not solve the problem.
"This is like a crime control strategy that involves shooting into a crowd," he said, emphasizing the need for bear-proof trash cans, aversive conditioning of the animals and a truly surgical targeting of problem bears. Pacelle repeated The HSUS's offer to contribute $75,000 to compensate beekeepers, farmers, and others whose property is damaged by bears.
"This is a real solution," he said. "Give this a try."
Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals, shared the results of a recent survey that found 57% of Marylanders oppose the hunt, while only 35% support it. Several who testified made it clear that the bear population in Maryland, once on the brink of extinction, is by no means out of control today.
According to Dr. Joe Lamp, a member of the state's Wildlife Advisory Committee who testified as a private citizen, the top three bear complaints to state authorities pertain to trash, bird feeders and people calling simply to report a sighting. Less than 4% of complaints involve damage to beehives or crops.
"Humans have a far greater chance of getting hit by lightning than killed by a black bear," he said.
Throughout the proceedings, members of the committee asked questions and offered comments of their own. Some wondered how the DNR arrived at its ever-shifting estimates of the bear population. Others worried that hunters could shoot more than 30 bears, and no one would be any the wiser.
William Bronrott, a delegate from Montgomery County, asked the age-old question: "Why did the bear cross the street?" Most likely because the animal was drawn by improperly stored trash, a bird feeder or something else that could be controlled through educating the public. Bronrott said his constituents have flooded his office with concerns that the proposed cull is simply "an excuse for a trophy hunt."
All the talk about saving bears proved too much for one committee member, who seemed to think that young ones didn't know wildlife very well. Delegate John Wood Jr., co-chair of the committee, played the fear card. Children might confuse bears for house cats with disastrous results, he warned.
That sort of logic didn't sit well with Jarrett Mahoney, who took the day off to testify on behalf of the bears. Mahoney is a 27-year-old construction contractor who lives in one of the western counties where the hunt will take place. Before he moved there, Mahoney spent several years in Juneau, Alaska, a place where people have learned to live harmoniously with grizzlies and black bears.
"They're as much a part of society as your next door neighbor," he said.
If you'd like to help stop the black bear hunt in Maryland, please contact Governor Robert Ehrlich and urge him to call off the wildlife killings.
Related Links
Maryland Rejects $75,000 Offer to Cancel Bear Hunt
Maryland Activists Present the Bear Facts to Governor Ehrlich
