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New Jersey Biologists Stop Counting Bears
From The Star-Ledger:
With complaints about New Jersey's troublesome bears up 44 percent over last year, legislators from the heart of bruin country demanded state environmental officials release bear population estimates they suggested are being suppressed.
"It used to be information that was given out, and now you don't see it," said state Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Sussex), who joined Assembly members Alison Littell McHose and Gary Chiusano yesterday demanding the state release its "best estimates" on the number of bears. . . .
But the Department of Environmental Protection said yesterday it does not have a statewide estimate of black bears . . . .
"After each hunt, we had less problems. That's a fact. And I think the public should be able to see the DEP data showing what we already know -- that mother bears are having three and four cubs now, not just one or two, and that we have more bears," Oroho said. . . .
All of which begs the question: How do you prove you need a bear season if no one is counting the bears?
That is exactly right. Stop counting the Black bears so you dont know how many you have, so no one can prove that a season is needed. typical jersey political bs, and i can't believe that the division is allowing this to happen. maybe the bears are paying off someone in trenton.
Posted by: Jerseyguy | July 23, 2008 at 03:50 PM
It's entirely a political situation in NJ. The animal rights people have sway with the liberal Democrat Gov. Corzine and they ignore all the scientific facts supplied by the Div. of Fish and Game. The DEP is run by one of Corzine's toadies and the DEP controls the DFGW. Sadly, it won't be until someone is killed by a bear that the DEP will be forced to address the issue. Rumor has it that they have already drafted a response to that contingency which spins the blame away from their failed policies.
Posted by: Lu Fletcher | July 23, 2008 at 04:17 PM
I am seeing more and more bear scat when I hunt in NY on the border with NJ. Rumor has it that the NJ problem bears are released in border NY forests!
Member
Huntersnetworks.com
Posted by: marcu campo | July 23, 2008 at 05:38 PM
The bear policy is not based on facts it is based on emotion. They won't allow hunting and you cannot even legally carry the "Real" bear pepper spray. I agree with jerseyguy, the bears are lobbying in Trenton. They must be smarter than the average bears!
Posted by: Chuck Leone | July 23, 2008 at 07:49 PM
iwe must have the hunt in new jersey its starting to get crazy. the bears are starting to roam in front of schools and residential areas pretty soon everyone is going to say screw the law and hunt them anyway.
Posted by: Andy Vestick | July 23, 2008 at 10:23 PM
This is directly related to the movement by anti hunters to take over the Fish & Game Council. Lu is right, nothing will happen until a bear that has lost its fear of humans (and I've seen that in Vernon--a small blackie ran right by me to get to a garbage dump) ) attacks and kills someone. A baby was killed by a bear in lower New York State a couple of years ago. It'll happen here, sooner or later.
Posted by: Jerseyguy | July 24, 2008 at 09:39 AM
just liberal politicans and elitest residnets who want there mc mansions and then complain when a bear walks by to threaten little timmy and tammy. they will never approve of hunting of any sort and would stop all hunting of any species by any method until they are up to their liberal asses with wildlife and then complain about lyme disease, which they think comes from drinking too many mojitos
Posted by: r napolitano | July 24, 2008 at 07:16 PM
What would anyone expect from a Liberal State Like New Jersey? Run by the political liberal hacks.
It's the black bear capital of the world.
Ever wonder why? The smell will overwhelm you as you cross the state line from New York to New Jersey
New York has always used New Jersey as their Garbage dump and bears migrate to garbage dumps like its a magnet.
Seawolf
Posted by: Seawolf | July 25, 2008 at 01:14 PM
corzine and cronies should stay out of bussiness they know nothing about! they are fixing jersey alright,wow what screw ups!
Posted by: ex-jersey resident | July 25, 2008 at 10:16 PM