Black Bear in NJ

Population managed by NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Black bears are an important part of NJ’s natural heritage and vital component of a healthy ecosystem

Bear Biology New Jersey's adult male black bears, called boars, weigh on average 400 pounds. Adult females, called sows, weigh on average 175 pounds. Adult black bears are about 3 feet high when on all four paws and can range from 5 feet to 7 feet tall when standing.

Bear Biology Black bears have a remarkable sense of smell. They have been documented detecting scents at more than two miles away from a food source! Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour. Can live for 25 years in the wild.

Bear Biology Black bears live in mixed hardwood forests, dense swamps and forested wetlands. They prefer areas with dense cover. In New Jersey, excellent bear habitat is found primarily within Sussex, Passaic, Warren and Morris counties. However, as the bear population increases, black bears are expanding their range both east and south. Black bear sightings have now been confirmed statewide. Bears are highly adaptable and can live among human development.

Bear Biology Black bears are omnivorous. As opportunistic feeders they will consume whatever food is available. About seventy-five percent (75%) of a black bear's diet is comprised of plants. Problems between black bears and people can occur when black bears learn to associate people with food. Habituation to human food sources may cause a black bear to become bold and lose its fear of people.

By 1900 settlers had practically eliminated NJ’s black bear population by destroying their habitat of dense forests for farming lands Bear population has been managed since 1953, as a game species. By doing this, bear could only be hunted with permits during certain times This effort along with increasing bear populations in neighboring states and improving forest habitat, the bear population in NJ has continued to increase over the years

NJ FISH AND WILDLIFE BEAR INFO SLIDESHOW

The issue In 2002 bear incidents in North Jersey alone topped the record books at 1,412 incidents Home entry Garbage Bird feeders Livestock kill Property and crop damage

In 2003 in response to a public outcry and sound scientific data, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife announced there would be a 6 day bear hunt held in NJ for the first time in 33 years! Opposition came from many groups including many anti-hunting and animal rights activist groups. Yet the hunt went on and 328 bears were harvested.

2004 In 2004, after the 2003 bear hunt, bear incidents dropped to a record low at 756 complaints… nearly half that of incidents in 2003. The bear hunt was scheduled to take place again in 2004, and was a hotly debated topic for weeks! The case was taken to court and the day before the hunt was to begin the supreme court came down with a decision “that without a proper management plan there should not be a hunt”

2005 A new bear management strategy was written. It includes Public education campaign Black bear research and monitoring Aggressive wildlife control measures for nuisance bears Trapping bears and euthanization of bears that pose a public safety hazard. As well as a scheduled 6 day hunt in December for the next 5 years.

~The Hunt went on! ~298 bears were successfully killed

2006 The bear hunt was scheduled for December 4-9 2006. Gov. Corzine blocked the hunt by saying there is not enough sound scientific research. Pushed it off to the Commissioner of the DEP. Now Bob Martin.

Reinstitution of the hunt The hunt was not in effect from 2006 – 2009, but was reinstituted in 2010 after another increase in bear incidents 589 bears of all ages and gender were killed in 2010.

Recent history Read the article given to you and make up your own mind as to how you feel about the hunt. Use the guidelines at the bottom of the article to put together a well-thought out letter to the DEP Commissioner. If you feel passionate about the issue, I can give you the Commissioner’s address and we can mail it to his office.

What can we do? WRITE LETTERS!!! Every letter that is written is documented We can make a difference!!!!

Commissioner Bob Martin Office of the Commissioner 401 E. State St. 7th Floor, East Wing P.O. Box 402 Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Letter Format History of black bear in NJ Bear human conflicts Incident numbers in years with hunt vs. without hunt Ethical reasons FACTS AND INFO What you think ALTERNATIVES Why… At LEAST 3 or 4 paragraphs.

Letter Use template found on the eboard, along with other research materials. You may work with a partner, but each person is responsible for submitting their OWN letter! Must be TYPED and PROOFREAD! 40 POINT ASSIGNMENT