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Maryland Governor Ehrlich Encourages Bear
Hunt
25 October 2005
by Anai Rhoads
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AnaiRhoads.org - Maryland's
annual black bear hunt began in Allegany and Garrett Counties Monday.
The hunt is only the second to take place in the state in five decades due
to the low number of black bears. According to
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' there are only 266 to 437 bears
in the state. Surrounding states have higher
populations. West Virginia has approximately 12,000 bears, and
Pennsylvania has an estimated 15,000 black bears and cubs.
The Maryland General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative,
Executive, and Legislative Review voted 12 to 7 to reject the
Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) proposed regulations on the
hunt, saying they require scientific review. Despite this, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich and
the DNR ignored the legislature and approved Monday's bear hunt.
In 2004, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Fund
for Animals collectively offered $75,000 to aggrandise programmes that
would better acquaint Maryland residents on black bears. However the
State's Governor and DNR declined the offer.
The funds were offered to help educate the public on the black bear
population. In addition, money would have gone towards compensating
farmers for bear related agricultural damage.
"What Maryland needs is an educational programme to teach people how to
store food and trash properly to prevent attracting bears to a free
buffet, and a compensation programme to put money in the pockets of
Maryland farmers who experience bear damage," said Michael Markarian,
executive vice president of the HSUS. "Governor Ehrlich's trophy hunt
is not helping farmers, citizens, or wildlife, and killing bears at
random doesn't target the problems. It's like trying to reduce crime by
shooting into a crowd."
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and other neighbouring states allow bear
hunts, but prohibit the hunting of cub bears. Maryland permits the
stalking and killing of small cubs.
"Last year the first bear killed was a 9 month-old female cub, and this
year the first hunter to kill a bear was an 8 year-old girl," said
Markarian. "Governor Ehrlich is personally responsible for exposing
young children and young bears to this cruelty. Our state's top
official should choose sound science and humane treatment of wildlife
over political payback for his buddies at the NRA. Unless he calls off
this bear hunt, it seems that Governor Ehrlich is personally committed
to the trophy hunting of these unique and majestic creatures."
Related Article:
Black Bear Hunted Into Extinction
©2005 Anai Rhoads. Reproduction must be authorised in writing
by author only. Altering, redistributing, or selling this material is
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