HSUS Appeals to New Jersey Governor to Halt Bear Hunt; $30,000 Donation to Fund Humane Conflict Resolution Efforts Offered

11/26/2003

From: Rachel Querry of the Humane Society of the United States, 301-258-8255, E-mail: rquerry@hsus.org

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- In a letter sent today to New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced that it has secured a commitment from a New Jersey resident to donate $30,000 to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife if the state agrees to halt a planned bear hunt. The donation would fund non-lethal means of reducing conflicts with New Jersey's black bear population.

The bear population in New Jersey is estimated to be 1,000 - 3,000, and the impact of a hunt in which 500 bears could be killed is unknown. The New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife approved the hunt earlier this year. The hunt is to be held Dec. 8-13 unless Governor McGreevey steps in to halt it.

"The Humane Society of the United States is appealing to Governor McGreevey to offer a Thanksgiving pardon to the bears of New Jersey," said Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president at The HSUS.

Public opinion polls demonstrate that New Jersey residents oppose the bear hunt. A poll commissioned this month by several New Jersey wildlife organizations found that 58 percent of registered New Jersey voters feel that the bear hunt should be stopped and 67 percent believe the state should use non-lethal methods to reduce bear-related incidents instead of having a hunt. Most voters -- 68 percent -- say that Governor McGreevey should not have broken his campaign promise to support a five- year ban on bear hunting.

An aggressive program of public education on proper storage of garbage and foodstuffs, as well as aversive conditioning of "problem" bears, will be crucial to the successful reduction of human-bear conflicts. Immunocontraception, which is of particular interest to the donor, is another non-lethal approach that involves an experimental vaccine that prevents pregnancy and may also prove useful in managing the bear population and human-bear conflicts. The HSUS has a permit to study the drug from the Food & Drug Administration and is conducting experiments in several states with deer, wild horses, and other species. The vaccine is also used to control populations in captive settings, such as zoos.

"New Jersey has several options for addressing conflicts with bears," said Barbara Dyer of The HSUS' Mid-Atlantic regional office in Flanders, N.J. "Immunocontraception is one approach that holds significant promise. Other methods that have not yet been fully explored by the state include training law enforcement officers to use aversive conditioning methods, educating the public about reducing conflicts with black bears, and compensating homeowners and farmers for damage caused by bears."

The anonymous donor is willing to see the funds he is promising go to other non-lethal approaches and will give the state full discretion on the use of the funds provided they are used to reduce bear conflicts non-lethally and that the governor steps in and stops the hunt.

"This donation is yet one more example of the determination of New Jersey citizens to pursue a solution that does not involve random sport-killing of bears," said Pacelle.

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS' Web site -- http://www.hsus.org.