Posted on 08/08/2005 1:32:51 PM PDT by neverdem
TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey wildlife officials are considering a plan to create bear-free zones as a way to manage the state's surging black bear population.
The unusual approach would make urban and other densely populated areas off-limits to bears and restrict the bruin population in regions such as southern New Jersey, where the bears are far less plentiful than in the state's mountainous northwest region.
"Most people agree, you don't want bears in areas like Hudson County, Union County and Middlesex County _ all urban areas with no real habitat for bears," Len Wolgast, a wildlife biology professor and member of the state's Fish and Game Council, told The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark.
"The problem is, what about areas like the Pinelands, where we already have some bears and plenty of habitat for them, but where some people don't want them to become established?"
The Fish and Game Council, which sets the state's hunting seasons, is voting Tuesday on whether to approve a bear hunt for later this year. New Jersey in 2003 held its first bear hunt in 33 years, but there was no hunt in 2004.
State Environmental Commissioner Bradley Campbell, though, has said he is willing to consider a hunt this year, and acting Gov. Richard J. Codey has said he has no personal objections to a hunt.
Once scarce, bears now number in the thousands in New Jersey. The animals are increasingly coming into conflict with the state's suburban residents, sometimes killing pets or breaking into homes as they forage for food. In mid-July, a bear injured a sleeping camper along the Appalachian Trail at High Point State Park.
The bear zoning proposal is among a number of plans being considered for an overall black bear management program, which was mandated last year by the...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Jesus H, they want to establish large bear populations in the South Jersey pinelands, where there aren't any bears now! This is because North Jersey is neglectfully unaware of South Jersey. The New York dominated North and Philadelphia dominated South are about 75 miles apart and might as well be on different planets. South Jersey is not a barren wasteland, it is loaded with suburbs and office parks, and not a Deanali into which they can dump a large bear population. Oy.
The only good bear, is a dead bear.
Sounds fine, but bears are notorious for disobeying the law. I doubt if they'll comply.
Maybe we can do the same for great whites.
I hereby outlaw extraterristials and any form of prehistoric life remaining on this planet from entering Camden.
You are safe and may now return to your regularly scheduled channel.
Excellent! I'm LOLing here...
HOw about throwing in some RAT-free Zones too?
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