Environmentalists File Suit to Stop New Jersey Bear Hunt

Cybercast News Service ^ | Dec 2, 2003 | Melanie Hunter

[neverdem]

Environmentalists, Native Americans and hikers collectively filed suit Monday to prevent New Jersey's first bear hunt in 33 years from taking place on the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The Delaware Water Gap is comprised of over 67,000 acres of protected park land, which houses more than 130 species of rare and endangered birds, mammals, and plants. The park makes up about 20 percent of the total area open to the state's bear hunt.

The coalition says bear hunting on protected park lands is in violation of federal environmental laws.

The hunt is scheduled for Dec. 8. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include: The Fund for Animals, The Center for Animal Protection, The Humane Society of the United States, and several individuals.

"Regardless of what happens on New Jersey's state lands, national parks are unique and require special attention," said Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals.

"The National Park Service has thumbed its nose at federal law by allowing the trophy hunting of bears without studying the potential impacts to the environment, to the bear population, and to rare species such as bald eagles," Markarian said.

"Bears are not a public safety threat in New Jersey, but thousands of bear hunters in our woods are the real danger," said Sue Russell, policy director for the New Jersey-based Center for Animal Protection.

"What our state needs to solve bear/human conflicts is not to shoot bears at random for trophies, but rather to implement a progressive policy of aversive conditioning, authentic public education, and bear habitat preservation," said Russell.

A poll commissioned by several New Jersey wildlife organizations found 58 percent of registered New Jersey voters are opposed to the bear hunt, while 67 percent think the state should use non-lethal methods to reduce bear-related incidents instead of the hunt.

Sixty-eight percent of voters say Gov. James McGreevey broke his campaign promise to support a five-year ban on bear hunting.

"New Jersey voters will long remember Governor McGreevey turning his back on bears. If the governor won't stand by his word, we will ask the court to prevent the circumvention of our federal environmental laws," said Wayne Macelle, senior vice president for the Humane Society of the United States.

Last month, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation announced it plans to look into the merits of a lawsuit separate from the Delaware Water Gap issue. This lawsuit is against the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to suspend all hunting, fishing and trapping.

Bud Pidgeon, president of the foundation, said the suit alleges that the state's Division of Fish and Wildlife has issued sporting licenses to convicted felons.

"To besmirch the reputation of sportsmen by linking us to felons is unconscionable," said Pidgeon. "Sportsmen are America's greatest conservationists, paying literally billions each year to fund fish and wildlife programs across the country."

Steve Ember, a plaintiff in the Delaware Water Gap suit and a prominent hike leader who has led hundreds of hikers into the park land, said, "Almost every hiker I've known has been thrilled to see black bears in New Jersey. The experience of observing wild bears ranks among the highest benefits of hiking. We don't want our bear population and our hiking experiences jeopardized."

"For many generations, the bear has lived in harmony with the Native Americans," said Santos Hawk's Blood, a plaintiff in the suit and a member of the Chiricahua Apache Nation and the Lone Warrior Society.

"The bear is our four-legged relative who gave us the knowledge to heal ourselves. That is why we call him brother. While our brother bear has tried to share the land, his home, with us, he is blamed any time he shares the crops or the property of the people. He is called a 'problem' even if human neglect, ignorance, or carelessness is really to blame," Hawk's Blood said.

[d-back]

Coleus, Zulu--are you going hunting for bear in our fine state?

[ZULU]

I don't live there anymore, Thank God - jsut stay in touch.

However, DON'T count the Bambi crowd down. The bear hunt is no sure thing. The latest news is they have gone to the Federal Courts, and we know what kiind of mentally challenged sociologist in Lawyers robes sit on the benches there.

[ZULU]

Don't get excited. You have lots of time.

Black bears will become extinct about the same time as garbage rats and roaches.

[Coleus]

No, I hunt with my clothes on.

Environmentalists, >>

what a bunch of nuts. they ruin everything. Seems they would rather have bears starve to death, get hit by cars, cause accidents, eat two yr. old girls and cause disturbances to families all over NJ. Why don't they go live in the woods in wigwams? and be with nature and the wildlife as they were intended or proclaim.

Save the bears and abort the humans. Save wild animals which eat and attack humans and kill defenseless babies in the womb. That seems to be their motto, whatever happened to "choice" don't humans and hunters have a choice in controlling the bear and deer populations in their communities? Guess not.

[1Old Pro]

Let me just say.....Good Hunting!

[ZULU]

"What our state needs to solve bear/human conflicts is not to shoot bears at random for trophies, but rather to implement a progressive policy of aversive conditioning, .."

How about feeding them Democrats?? They are likely to cause excessive flatulence, thus discouraging the bears from attacking normal people.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[ZULU]

If you lived in the right place, you WOULD have three or four running around your backyard.

Buffalo are another story. Back then nearly everybody owned a gun, ate meat, liked target practise and wanted to make life as difficult as possible for the Souix, Cheyenne, etc.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[hellinahandcart]

Look... our whole conversation started over someone else's bad joke.

Well, that's where you're wrong. It was a very good joke. And your attempts to come in here like a gigantic PC Wet Blanket haven't made it any less funny.

[martin gibson]

"The bear is our four-legged relative who gave us the knowledge to heal ourselves. That is why we call him brother. While our brother bear has tried to share the land, his home, with us, he is blamed any time he shares the crops or the property of the people. He is called a 'problem' even if human neglect, ignorance, or carelessness is really to blame," Hawk's Blood said.

...I honestly don't know whether to laugh out loud or projectile vomit...

[Blue Jays]

Good Afternoon All-

HairOfTheDog, I see your point in packaging a more "comprehensive" solution, but I'm also of the belief that we live in an era of media soundbites. There appears very little that we can do to make the hunting of Teddy Bears^TM even remotely attractive to soccermoms and soccerdads via traditional methods.

HellInAHandcart, I'm in agreement with you that if we rebut any of their outrageous claims, we give them a degree of legitimacy and enable them to "recirculate" their false statements in the media. We cannot permit them to frame the debate. For example, we are compelled to call them on that ridiculous non-sequitur about the bald eagles relating to black bears.

Our success will be in reaching undecided people "on the fence" who may come to our side when they realize the absurdity of the environazi crowd. The fact-of-the-matter is that it can be downright dangerous to walk in the woods in certain sections of northwestern New Jersey.

Another interesting thing to note is the place of residence for all the people relating the "horror" of the hunt. Montclair, Short Hills, Colts Neck, Westfield, Bloomfield, Cranford, etc., etc. All the places where bears AREN'T around. These people wouldn't know whether to sh!t or go blind if they encountered a bear and had to deal with the situation mano-a-mano while hiking up at the Delaware Water Gap. One simple-minded story in the The Star-Ledger suggested bringing a large umbrella into the woods while hiking (to open and shut rapidly) to frighten any curious bears. Sheesh.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~

[agrace]

Another interesting thing to note is the place of residence for all the people relating the "horror" of the hunt. Montclair, Short Hills, Colts Neck, Westfield, Bloomfield, Cranford, etc., etc. All the places where bears AREN'T around.

It truly is absurd. I used to live in Bloomfield and it's practically a suburb of Newark, for pete's sake. Montclair is next door to and upscale from Bloomfield and Short Hills is even worse. I live 2 towns over (which in this part of NJ translates to about 200 yards) from Westfield now and it is the same - upscale, unaffordable, highly populated suburbia. These towns are literally closer to the Bronx Zoo than to the natural bear population of NJ.

Point A is where the bears are. Point B is where the horrified residents are.

[hellinahandcart]

Thanks. I always think it's better to call the enviros liars.

Every time our side says "NO, we don't want to kill the cute little animals and cut down all the pretty trees" it makes us sound like *we're* lying. What do we ever get to do in the debate except deny that we want to do what we're accused of wanting to do? I say it's time for us to do the accusing for a change.

It's pretty obvious the only "aversive conditioning" going on is by the enviros against the human population and, unfortunately, it's working.

[JerseyHighlander]

Actually the bears are much closer than you think. On your map there, I've run into a mother and 3 cubs between the Lake Telemark and the 503 sign. There are a good number of bears in the Kinnelon /Wanaque border area also (even though the local guys hunt them year round.) Take a quick trip up to Ringwood/West Milford, more bears in the parks then you would ever want to get close to. (Coming from a guy who has had at least 20 close encounters with the local bear population in the last 6 years.)

[JerseyHighlander]

Make that, "Lake Telemark and 513"

[agrace]

I don't doubt you - Lake Telemark I can certainly understand. In fact, anywhere north of rt 80 and/or west of Denville wouldn't surprise me at all. It was the notion of bears say, terrorizing shoppers on Rt 22 in Union that got me.