Connecticut Bear Scare — False Alarm
For Immediate Release: 11 Jan. 2012
Contact: Nancy Rice
Friends of Animals
E-mail or Tel: 203.656.1522
Contact: Priscilla Feral,
President, Friends of Animals
E-mail or Tel: 203.656.1522
DARIEN, CT — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is mulling a bear hunt lottery, sending an alarming message about big, bad bears — based less on facts than a fairy tale.
A look at the data shows the DEEP tallying bears in a way that can alarm the public and create a perceived need for hunting permits.
Friends of Animals, through the Freedom of Information Act, asked for documentation, and found that the sighting numbers consist of hearsay, not science. Several tallies could simply amount to one bear migrating from one area to another.
“Nor should bears be vilified because they happen to be seen — in a state of 3.5 million people,” said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals.
Bears are not targeted in Connecticut, a state which has not held a bear hunt since 1840.
“We’re asking our members and Connecticut residents to assure the governor that while this idea might draw money from hunters in search of a new thrill, it’s wrongheaded,” Feral said.
Friends of Animals’ idea of a better plan? “Educate residents on how to co-exist with bears—including commonsense measures such as proper garbage disposal and storage, and not inadvertently attracting bears by using bird and squirrel feeders.”
American black bears (Ursus americanus) are native to North America, and are the continent’s smallest and most common bear species. They are omnivores whose diets vary, contingent on location and season. They typically live in woodlands, but are known to become attracted to human communities because of the availability of food.
Friends of Animals is asking members and Connecticut residents to contact the governor and ask that the bear hunt be removed from further consideration. The group has stated that the only appropriate action is education: to have Connecticut be a model for safe, ecologically aware living, involving respecting bears rather than turning them into an annual sport.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy can be reached at: governor.malloy@ct.gov or toll-free on 1-800-406-1527
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21 Comments
On January 11, 2012, mimi wrote:
They had a bear hunt in New Jersey in December, this hunt they were allowed to shoot and kill even cubs. We had a Mama bear and her four cubs visiting us for over a year, all five are gone! This was a culling not a hunt.There was a bear destroyed that was over 800 lbs, how long had he lived to reach that weight? He wasn’t tagged, so he wasn’t a nuisance bear, what good did that do?
On January 11, 2012, Barbara P wrote:
We really need a national law that stops the killing of wild animals and domestic pets (as in shelters) alike and recognizes that they have just as much a right to live on this planet as we do - free from human interference!
On January 11, 2012, Dustin Rhodes, Friends of Animals wrote:
Hi Barbara P.: I hope you’ll write that directly to Gov. Malloy; that’s exactly the kind of message he needs to hear! (I’d also recommend reading Lee Hall’s book On Their Own Terms: Bringing Animal-Rights Philosophy Down to Earth if you haven’t done so already; it’s an entire book exploring the themes you mention).
On January 11, 2012, Lynette Dumont wrote:
Destruction of wildlife for profit is gross mis-management and irresponsible legislation.
On January 11, 2012, Natalie J. wrote:
The CT DEEP is once again catering to their only clients (hunters), also hoping to get out-of-state bear killers to boost their slowly dwindling revenues hunting license revenues, since hunters comprise a mere 1% of the population right now. Local and out-of-state hunters are salivating just thinking of any upcoming bear hunts in CT!
All this was triggered by an 82-yr old man who shot and killed a bear because of damage to his birdfeeder; a 2-yr old cub was left behind, tranquilized, and relocated.
Previoulsy, bears were also killed for similarly frivolous reasons because people continue to ignore suggestions on how to discourage bear visitors to their yards, garages, and birdfeeders….Mass hysteria about dangerous bears are hyped by frenzied media, hoping to increase their readership wherever they can.
On January 11, 2012, klm wrote:
Oh here goes the DEP again. They are promoters of hunting and killing of wild animals that’s what they stand for. Killing and making money. Its totally disgusting how the dep and connecticut for that matter feel killing wild animals solves everything, it does not. It only gives the nutcases at the dep more money. They are a bunch of lazy hunters and mean human beings. YES there needs to be a national law to stop this cruelty. These animals have a right to be here as we do. Builders are taking all the open space and land away as well.
..Its all politics and money( they are already advertising the cost of permits) and sport. Killing deer has not accomplished anything but the dep and other hunters make it seem like it has. ITS ALL BS!!! It gives these mentally challenged hunters their thrill to kill. Its sick and its sad someone needs to stop all the killing of wild animals. WAKE UP CONNECTICUT and everyone else. Its cruelty in the highest degree!!!!
On January 11, 2012, Meg wrote:
I just saw this on the news. Trying to advocate for and protect animals in Connecticut just seems so futile. The hunters seem to have all the rights - they have the DEP in the palm of their hands! They say “too many deer” in a supposedly protected area - and the next thing you know, they’re all out there blasting them all away “for their own good”… Really?? Now they’re saying it’s “good for the bears” to kill them - really?? This killing mentality has got to go!
On January 11, 2012, Atia wrote:
The question is: How can 1% of the population always get their wishes granted? Does the majority have no say?
On January 11, 2012, Marcie J. Newman- Perskin wrote:
Dear Hunters ,
I have no idea why a person would want to kill an animal, you obviously , differ in this thought. Bears have been protected and this statute should stand. Bears pose no threat, and to Vilify them is ignorant and intentional. We are now living in a world with a dwindling ecosystem to say the least. Please start considering using a Camera instead, good wildlife photos yield thousands of dollars. Enjoy the woods w/ no bloodshed the animal you kill is someones Mom or Dad
On January 12, 2012, Sudhir Sajwan wrote:
Oh save bears, save animals, they are our friends not enemies, if Service will kill sound friends who shall save us from enemies
On January 12, 2012, pam wrote:
This is so mean and unjust to use a bear scare in order to shoot the bears. Why can’t people respect the bears and nature?
On January 12, 2012, Grady wrote:
Murdering animals is the lust hunters love. The government agency has controlled the animal population in favor of the blood thirsty hunters. Controlling the amount of human building activity on what was once the animals’ homeland, now human land. Animals are now encroaching on what was once theirs, now on human land. Animals have every right for protection for their sanctuary of living as we do. This is just another example of how humans exploit the other citizens of earth. The right to arm bears not hunters. Amen to that
On January 12, 2012, Connie wrote:
How did we get so cold as a culture that our society has no concern for god’s creatures. We move into their virgin froests and slaughter them without a thought. Shame, shame, shame!
On January 13, 2012, sue wrote:
Its connecticut! The whole state is going downhill. It use to be a beautiful state of open land and wildlife. You could walk through the woods freely without running into these low life hunters with their monkey suits on. Now all they do is kill the animals. If the dep and ct higher up do not like something or what an animal does “KILL IT” that’s connecticuts motto. The DEP and the government are full of hunters, what gives them the right to decide what needs killing?? All of these animals are running because you have the sick hunters in their little suits and ladders waiting to kill them as they graze in their own territory. Wildlife is trying to find safety from all these hunters. Wild animals have more of a right to be here than the humans. I have been here for over 60 years and believe me Living in Ct disgusts me. its the killing of wildlife capital of the east. Can hardly wait to get out of this cruel state!!
On January 15, 2012, Anne Streeter wrote:
Totally unacceptable!!!
On January 16, 2012, Walt C wrote:
Bear problems are real - All the emotional rhetoric you can muster won’t change the eventual outcome. All your DEEP and hunter bashing, only shows your ignorance to the facts. Hunting or no hunting - unchecked deer and bear populations cause problems.
FoA comments:
The real problems that bears have are caused by humans. Most of the problems humans have are caused by humans. Killing bears, rather than learning how to co-exist with them and the rest of nature, isn’t a solution for either set of problems.
On January 18, 2012, MARIA SONIA ESTRADA-SOLERO wrote:
LOS SERES HUMANOS SOMOS LOS CULPABLES DE TODO
On January 18, 2012, Jane Heltebrake wrote:
Please cease these inhumane, irresponsible killing of bears in Conecticut. To needlesly eliminate a Mom & Cubs, with no regard for life, is shameful. Those who commit these killings, should suffer the same fate!!!
On January 20, 2012, Waltraud Usahanun wrote:
Whose bears are that? Who is permitted to kill them ? Where we all live? Must we stay together with killing human monsters around?
Those who are cruel to animals cannot be righteous human beings.
Authorities have to immediately place a ban on cruelties, on killings, on tortures like laboratory-testings or else — to all living creatures by applying the strongest justice to persons responsible !
Further we have to create a law on how to work with and handle animals for those stupids who cannot think humanely.
Human beings and animals have right to live protected by us! Monsters should get separated from other human beings who don´t disturb their feelings in a inhumane way !
I wish them never to sleep nights and be tortured by their own dramas: emptiness in their brains and hearts.
Humans should have the intelligence & moral obligation to try and counteract problems in a humane way.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.“ Mahatma Gandhi
Those who are cruel to animals cannot be righteous human beings and have to ban out from civilized society. That means all together find an island to bring the killers there !!! — hope as fas as possible for no one can ever reach them again !
On January 23, 2012, Rachel wrote:
If you are as outraged about the proposed black bear hunt in Connecticut, please take action! tell Governor Malloy and the CT DEEP that we do NOT support a black bear hunt in Connecticut!
FoA comments:
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy can be reached at: governor.malloy@ct.gov or toll-free on 1-800-406-1527
On March 3, 2012, Stephen F. Stringham, PhD - Bear Viewing Assoc wrote:
Anyone interested in the scientific fight against “Alaska’s Predator Holocaust” should visit the Facebook page by that name. We are looking for all the support we can get to stop the attempt to exterminate most “predators” from Alaska.
Stephen F. Stringham, PhD
Director - Bear Viewing Assoc.
President-WildWatch