Measures Embrace the Reinstatement of a Regulated Bear Hunt, Trash Administration, and Deer Inhabitants Controls
 

TRENTON – To guard public security and assist a wholesome wildlife inhabitants, Governor Phil Murphy introduced that the New Jersey Fish and Recreation Council will focus on the approval of the State’s Complete Bear Administration Coverage (CBBMP) and contemplate amendments to the Recreation Code at its upcoming assembly on Tuesday, November 15. As a way of decreasing the black bear inhabitants and harmful bear-human interactions, the amendments embody measures to reintroduce a regulated black bear hunt starting in December. The Fish and Recreation Council can even contemplate further limitations to a regulated hunt, together with prohibitions on the taking of cubs.    

“Because the outset of my Administration, I’ve promised to floor each tough determination on the most recent science and proof with a view to shield our communities,” stated Governor Murphy. “From the information now we have analyzed to the tales now we have heard from households throughout the state, it’s clear that New Jersey’s black bear inhabitants is rising considerably, and nonlethal bear administration methods alone will not be sufficient to mitigate this pattern. Each New Jerseyan deserves to dwell in communities through which their youngsters, households, and property are shielded from hurt, and whereas I dedicated to ending the bear hunt, the information calls for that we act now to stop tragic bear-human interactions. We should responsibly adapt to the inhabitants with fastidiously regulated and strict bear inhabitants administration methods to make sure our communities and households are shielded from the rising black bear inhabitants.” 

“Black bears are a part of New Jersey’s pure heritage, and a sustainable inhabitants contributes to the well being of our bigger ecosystem,” stated Commissioner of Environmental Safety Shawn M. LaTourette. “Overpopulation and dispersal of bears to areas with much less supportive pure habitat is a priority for public security in addition to the general well being and sustainability of the species. Given the black bear inhabitants and dispersion circumstances affecting New Jersey, a regulated hunt with humane limitations is critical and applicable.” 

“As chairman of the Fish and Recreation Council, I share Governor Murphy’s considerations for shielding public security whereas supporting a wholesome black bear inhabitants in New Jersey,” stated New Jersey Fish and Recreation Council Chair Frank Virgilio. “Moreover, now we have an obligation to conduct bear searching in New Jersey each ethically and responsibly. The council’s job is to think about credible black bear administration in addition to the non-hunting public and their acceptance of our laws.” 

The Division of Environmental Safety (DEP) estimates that the black bear inhabitants in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties – the place the state’s inhabitants is centered – has elevated, with estimates nearing 3,000 black bears. In the meantime, reported black bear incidents, together with harmful human-bear interactions, have additionally elevated. Incidents reported to the DEP from January by means of October of this yr have elevated by 237% in comparison with the identical interval in 2021. Essentially the most regarding of those incidents embody: 62 aggressive encounters with people, 1 human assault, 12 canine assaults, 12 house entries, 15 tried house entries, 84 cases of property injury exceeding $1,000, and 52 assaults on protected livestock.  

The black bear inhabitants is projected to develop to greater than 4,000 bears within the subsequent two years. Within the absence of inhabitants management measures, the speed of inhabitants development will compound in future years as a better variety of feminine bears reproduce, with inhabitants discount standing as the one scientifically sound technique of restraining unchecked development and dispersal.  

Dense bear populations can probably result in insufficient pure sources of meals for the animals and territory for younger males. This causes wider dispersion of bears into areas the place they will come into battle with folks and will increase the danger of bears in search of sources of meals similar to trash, pet meals left exterior, seed from chook feeders, agricultural crops, and poultry and livestock. 

The actions into account would reinstate a Bear Looking Season for December 5 by means of December 10 for 2022 to run concurrently with the six-day firearm season for deer. If the 20% inhabitants harvest goal isn’t reached, the season will probably be prolonged to the next week, December 14 by means of December 17. Bear searching will probably be permitted on state and personal lands inside designated bear searching zones. 

There will probably be a chance for public touch upon the CBBMP and amendments to the Recreation Code in the course of the Fish and Recreation Council assembly on Tuesday. The assembly will start at 10 a.m. on the New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Avenue.  

The hunt was suspended on state lands in 2018 to supply a chance to guage the feasibility of completely utilizing non-lethal measures to take care of the inhabitants in a way that’s protecting of the general public’s security. With the expiration of the Complete Black Bear Administration Plan in 2021, no bear searching has taken place on any lands in New Jersey since 2020.   

Throughout its November 15 assembly, after working intently with the DEP to develop mutually agreeable parameters, the Fish and Recreation Council will contemplate implementing strict prohibitions on the taking of cubs below 75 kilos, the taking of adults touring in household packs with cubs under 75 kilos, and restrictions on the apply of baiting. Ought to the Fish and Recreation Council approve the submitting, Commissioner LaTourette will signal the Complete Black Bear Administration Plan to proof the DEP’s concurrence with authorization of the hunt below the emergency proposal.   The DEP can even launch a broader Wildlife Administration and Public Security Initiative, which – along with a extra humane black bear hunt – will embody a trash administration pilot to advance non-lethal methods, the growth of native authorities planning for deer inhabitants management, and protections for unique species.