I totally agree people should learn what they need to learn. That's not just how to kill bears, but also how to co-exist with them. As for the population, like I say, I recognize that we humans need to control animal populations. I have no issue with that. But when people come on here and suggest that ANY risk of ANY bear attack means we need to hunt, well, that's just insane and I am against that sort of idiocy.
I just read on the NH website, the last time a black bear killed a person was 1794. I don't know what it is in NJ, but whatever it is, it is low enough for my taste. We had a growing bear population. No question. But I am not in favor of accomodating the milque toasts in Morris County who are too chicken to live within 40 miles of black bears. If I get to vote on it, I'll vote for rugged individualism, not scared suburban lamos.
Posted by Huck:
"...I don't disagree with you in theory. Personally, I think the risk of a bear attack is so low that I don't care at all about going into the NJ woods without a gun. It's actually sort of laughable to me to think someone wouldn't feel safe enough to hike around on hiking trails. Whatever..."
My position does not advocate killing bears as a means to prevent attacks, my position is to hunt a specified number of bears (determined by biologists and other experts) to ensure a healthy and vibrant bear population.
The fact that the bear also become very wary of humans is just a positive side benefit. Human deaths attributed to bear shouldn't be the sole deciding factor to whether people should be able to protect themselves. The four bear my spouse and I encountered at DWG could have really ruined our day had the mother bear decided to chew on our legs. If pepper spray doesn't yield the desired results, I would have no compunction about immediately escalating to a large-caliber sidearm, if the law permitted such action.
It's fine that bear reside in what is considered the "remotest" section of our state...but I clearly resent the fact that left-leaning Trenton legislators think more highly of that growling bear than they do of NJ residents. As it is, I restrict my extended hikes in that region to the coldest months of the year. This is done to minimize the chance of an additional bear meeting until we reach a situation where humans are permitted to take whatever action is necessary to preserve life and limb.
~ Blue Jays ~