New Jersey's black bears are in jeopardy of being hunted for the first time in thirty years.
If the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife gets its
way, ten-thousand permits to kill bears of all
ages will be given out to hunters, many of whom
have no bear hunting experience.
While mayor of Woodbridge in 2000, current Governor Jim McGreevey
opposed the bear hunt that was called for by Fish & Wildlife. At
the eleventh hour, the hunt was stopped after
Governor Christine Whitman asked the Fish & Game
council to reconsider their plans for a hunt. Since that
time, Fish & Wildlife has been spreading fear and hysteria among the
public in an attempt to justify a bear hunt.
Their feeble attempts at education could more
accurately be described as ways to make the public afraid of
black bears. After saying that their public educational programs
have not worked, the Fish and Game Council
recently approved the first bear hunt in New
Jersey in thirty years, to coincide with the fall bow hunting season.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call Governor McGreevey at (609) 292-6000 and tell him that you
want the hunt stopped! Tell the governor
that you wish for him to honor his word and
force the Fish & Game Council to cancel the
hunt, just as they did in 2000.
Contact the New Jersey Board of Tourism at (609) 777- 0885 and tell them
that you will take your vacation dollars elsewhere if New Jersey
goes through with a bear hunt.
For more information on the campaign to ban bear hunting in New Jersey,
see the Bear Education and Resource Group's
website at
http://www.savenjbears.com/ or
call (973) 853 BEAR.