Two Steps to Save California Bears

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Brian Vincent <brianTwo Steps to Save California Bears ALERT ALERT ALERTFor more information contact Big Wildlife at brian or call 604-618-1030. For a sample letter to the California Fish and Game Commission or for more details Big Wildlife Bear Action Alert TWO STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP STOP EXPANSION OF BEAR HUNTING ACROSS CALIFORNIA1) Please urge the California Fish and Game Commission to reject plans to dramatically expand bear hunting throughout the state. Deadline for public comments on proposals: March 13, 2010 2) Public meeting on bear hunting proposals: March 3, 2010 (see details below)Every year, more than 2,000 bears are legally killed by hunters across California. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 black bears are legally hunted each year in the US and Canada, while an unknown number are also illegally poached. Shockingly, it is even legal for trophy hunters in California to chase bears with packs of hounds. To make matters worse, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has proposed dramatically expanding bear hunting across the state. Earlier this month, the CDFG unveiled its plans to: increase the hunt quota from 1,700 to 2,500 bears or eliminate a cap altogether and expand hunting into other areas of the state, including San Luis Obispo county. The agency also plans to allow the use of global positioning system (GPS) collars and treeing switches on dogs while bear hunting. (A treeing switch alerts hunters when hounds have chased a bear up a tree.) The California Fish and Game Commission will ultimately decide to accept or reject the CDFG's proposals. If these proposals are adopted, bears will have virtually have no place to hide in California. Click here to watch hound hunt of bear. WARNING: video is graphic and disturbing. WHAT YOU CAN DO:*Urge the California Fish and Game Commission to reject the CDFG proposals. See our sample letter here. To contact the California Fish and Game Commission:Email: fgcPhone: (916) 653-4899Fax: (916) 653-5040Mailing address:California Fish and Game Commission 1416 Ninth StreetP.O. Box 944209Sacramento, CA 94244-2090*Attend the California Fish and Game Commission meeting on the bear hunting proposals. The next Commission meeting is scheduled in Ontario, California on March 3, 2010. MEETING DATE: Wednesday, March 3, 2010MEETING TIME: Meeting begins at 8:30 AM, though the bear hunting proposals will likely be later in the dayMEETING LOCATION:DoubleTree Hotel, Ontario Airport DoubleTree Ballroom222 N. Vineyard Ave.Ontario, California(909) 937-0900-- Brian Vincent, Communications Director, Big WildlifePhone: 604-618-1030Email: brian Web: www.bigwildlife.org"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."-- Leonardo Da Vinci "One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds."-- Aldo Leopold