NJ Black Bears Will No Longer Be Hunted in 2021 - National Humane Education Society
Paws Up!
October 6, 2020
To the New Jersey Fish and Game Council for choosing to ban black bears from being hunted in 2021.
The sighting of a black bear can leave one awestruck and maybe even a little unnerved. These omnivorous creatures can range anywhere from 90-600 pounds. They are more active during the spring and fall, and education is vital when encountering one. In the fall, black bears will consume an amazing 20,000 calories per day in preparation for the winter. When bears are more active, conflict with humans can occur. Leaving food outdoors for wildlife or pets is a common attractant. To limit bear encounters, do not leave food outdoors and secure trash in appropriate containers, such as bear-resistant trashcans.
Some believe that hunting is the only way to decrease the populations of certain species effectively. In New Jersey, the black bear hunting season is between October-December. In 2018, Governor Phil Murphy banned hunting on public properties–“State forests, State parks, State recreation areas, State historic sites, State Wildlife Management Areas and State natural areas.” In 2020, the New Jersey Fish & Game Council is looking for non-lethal ways to control its black bear population and decided that black bear hunting will no longer be allowed by 2021. This has created controversy due to increased bear sightings and activity. Currently, several hunting organizations are fighting Governor Murphy’s 2018 decision to ban hunting on public lands. The Department of Environmental Protection and the NJ Fish and Game Council will study and develop a more humane way to control its black bear population.
Take Action: New Jersey residents, please contact the NJ Fish and Game Council and thank them for their decision to ban the hunting of black bears.
For more information on hunting, trapping, and fishing, please download our free brochure.
thank you.
I would like my great nieces and nephews to know the beauty of animals
Good decision New Jersey!
Stopping the Bear Hunt in NJ is going to increase the already growing Bear problems we have. I myself as a Hunter have no desire to kill a Bear, but the Bear season as a conservation tool keeps the population at a level the state can support. Gov. Murphy should keep his personal feelings about Bear Hunting to himself. Too many Bears in NJ will eventually cost someone else there life.
This hunt has been banned in the past with no human casualties……stop the drama !!! Educate the idiots who want to kill and don’t know how to keep their garbage contained.
Gun-happy jerks have killed enough – of everything
That’s not true…..NJ had a life taken by a bear in 2019
It’s only a matter of time before maul and death when banning bear hunts in a densely populated state.
He was photographing a bear. Within close range
Witch caused a reaction. It stated in the papers.
He was photographing a bear at close range etch caused it to react.stated in paper
It’s about time. Many orphaned cubs is the cruelest site I’ve ever witnessed. Thank youi
Murdering Bears and watching orphaned cubs was the cruelest site I hav watched since the morbid hunt began. Thank you Fish And game it had to end.
Murdering Bears and watching orphaned cubs was the cruelest site I hav watched since the morbid hunt began. Thank you Fish And game it had to end.
He was photographing a bear at close range etch caused it to react.stated in paper
Great job!!! I’m infested with black bear in my area of Hunterdon County. I’d expect nothing less from politicians in Trenton to make rulings about an animal that they have probably only observed at a zoo.
Congratulations New Jersey for stopping the murder of bears, not more orphaned cubs, thank you for caring the nature.
Congratulations governor Murphy another stupid idea of yours thank you so much what’s next are you gonna stop us from deer hunting will it be illegal to trap a mouse my goodness and l
Leave the regulation of wildlife to people who know what they’re doing unlike you Murphy
That would have been Patel I think three college boys out in highlands Park north nj there mistake is that they ran and split up. 600 pounds is not the max size up here about 865 pounds was recorded on a hunt. What does a bear do that size? whatever it wants.. Don’t leave food outside is great advice except if you chickens or livestock even dogs and cats that perfer to live outside. Hunting is a great management tool.
The cruelty against Black Bears seems to be spreading into NY, where “authorities” in North Castle, NY went uphill, into a forest to double shoot an innocent Black Bear that was retreating away from a 7 year old boy’s playshed and numerous police vehicles. Allegedly (without any evidence being presented to the public) the bear injured a screaming boy, who was bandaged by his mother, an M.D., making it impossible for the public to verify the presence of any bear inflicted injury under the bandages. The family is not speaking about the injury. Was the boy injured before by rough playing with another boy, resulting in him yelling and the black bear responding out of concern for the boy, possibly trying to peacefully separate one boy from another boy ? The boys already went back safely inside before the bear walked by the house and into the forest, and there was no positive rabies test result before and after the shooting of the bear. The authorities had to walk uphill to shoot and were photoed bringing the bear in a black bag down slope, away from the house, so there was evidence of the bear NOT being a threat, and of the bear distancing from humans. -contrary to what was stated to justify shooting.
The current, incomplete, sensationalised evidence, as presented by media, does not seem to support a shooting. There seems to be more to this story than a bear. Children and parents should be less distracted and more observant of their surroundings while playing, whether there are bears or not, and should take full responsibility, as there were already many bear education presentations in this area of NY, and they did not follow the advice to be observant for signs of bears such as falling hickory nuts-on “Hickory” Kingdom Rd. !
Would the NHES please request all of the evidence on this case and do an investigation ? Thank You.