California Black Bears Need Your Help Again!

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California Black Bears Need Your Help Again!

April 8: Please attend EITHER Cal. Fish & Game meeting in Monterey, or Sacramento rally against Fish & Game’s proposed hunting expansion

Thank you for responding to our request for public comments opposing Fish & Game’s plan to increase bear hunting.

Please speak out again on April 8 by attending either one of two important events:

1. Fish & Game Commission Meeting:

When: Thursday, April 8, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Best Western Beach Resort Monterey, La Grande Room, 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, Monterey, California

Help pack the meeting with bear supporters. It would be great if you could speak a few words, but you don’t have to. All you’d be asked to do is state your name, the city you live in and that you are opposed to Fish & Game’s proposals to expand black bear hunting. (See below for background information.) Please contact Melissa Gonzalez, Melissa if you are able to attend, and to request talking points you can include in your comments to the commission.

2. Humane Lobby Day & Rally for the Bears – same day as above meeting, so pick whichever event is closest to you!

When: Thursday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where: State Capitol, Sacramento, California

You can either participate in the lobby day during which legislators will be asked to sign onto a joint letter indicating opposition to expanded bear hunting, OR just come for the “Rally for the Bears†on the west steps of the Capitol.

Important: To participate in Lobby Day, you must RSVP online by April 1. For more information about Lobby Day, contact Hope Bohanec, Hope.

Please join IDA and other animal protection supporters in urging the State of California Fish & Game Commission to reject all the California Dept. of Fish and Game proposals surrounding black bears, and also to ban the use of dogs to hunt black bears without delay.

More information about Fish & Game’s black bear hunting proposals

They cater to sport hunters at the expense of everyone else. Fish & Game states that their interest is to “maintain the State's black bear population in a healthy and viable condition for the enjoyment and use of all Californians.†But the proposals cater to one minority interest group, sport hunters. A statewide poll said 69% of Californians would support a ban on all bear hunting in the state. Another statewide poll found that 70% of Californians believe the use of dogs to track bears should be outlawed. Already, 1,700 bears may be killed under existing regulations, not counting those killed illegally.

We don’t need more dog/bear interactions. Fish & Game wants to expand training grounds for dogs to practice on live bears. This will lead to more dog/bear fights, and more harassment of bear cubs and non-target wildlife. During these exercises bears are placed under enormous stress escaping from or fighting with a dogs who don’t adhere to all the commands yet.

Using dogs to track and kill bears is cruel to both the dogs and bears. It is not “sporting,†even to most hunters who claim support for “fair-chase†principles and techniques. It is especially disturbing and disruptive to those of us who enjoy non-hunting recreational opportunities in California’s great outdoors, who are deeply troubled knowing that wildlife in our state are being molested and injured by dogs.

It is common for bears to injure and/or kill entire packs of dogs. Mother bears with cubs are extremely dangerous and illegal to kill; yet dogs pursue them. In one case, a female with three cubs fought with dogs for over 10 minutes before the hunter called his dogs off because they were getting hurt. Two weeks later, the same bear was pursued again and fought with the dogs before that hunter called them off.

Using dogs to chase and tree bears is just as bad as dog fighting and cockfighting. Pitting dogs against each other, even when none die, is a felony in California. In light of that, what is the argument that allows dogs to be used to hunt and kill bears? Using dogs is cruel to both bears and dogs.

Fish & Game also proposes allowing the use of GPS equipment and tree switches on dogs. They state that use of these devices would increase the care and monitoring of dogs. The use of GPS equipment and tree switches actually caters to and encourages lazy hunters who can’t keep up with the pack and will remain far away from potential altercations, thus increasing the probability of deadly interactions between bears and dogs.

The proposals would increase the number of black bears killed in California by promoting increased poaching. They would provide additional resources and range for poachers. Poachers already use dogs to illegally kill animals. When a poaching ring is discovered, dogs are usually involved. Legalizing GPS equipment and tree switches would help poachers even more and fuel the black market for their gall bladders and paws.

 

 

 

 

 

In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501©3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals

3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901

Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031

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