Please urge the California Fish and Game Commission to reject plans to dramatically expand bear hunting throughout the state.
Every year, more than 2,000 bears are legally killed by hunters across California, with the most bears killed in Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Shasta, and Tulare counties. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 black bears are legally hunted each year in the US and Canada, while an unknown number are also illegally poached. Shockingly, it is even legal for trophy hunters in California to chase bears with packs of hounds. To make matters worse, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has proposed dramatically expanding bear hunting across the state. Earlier this month, the CDFG unveiled its plans to: |
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The California Fish and Game Commission will ultimately decide to accept or reject the CDFG’s proposals.
If these proposals are adopted, bears will have virtually no place to hide in California and there will be no limit on the numbers killed.
Click this link to watch video of bear hunt with hounds.
Warning: video is graphic and disturbing.
(Special thanks to The Humane Society of the United States for providing the video)
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. | Urge the California Fish and Game Commission to reject the CDFG proposals (See sample letters below) | ||||||||
To contact the California Fish and Game Commission: Fax: (916) 653-5040 Email: (Include the subject of the regulation in the e-mail subject line, i.e. “Stop expansion of bear hunting”) - ELoft@dfg.ca.gov (Eric Loft, Chief, Calif. Dept. of Fish & Game, Wildlife Branch) - You may also send an automatic email through the Humane Society's website by clicking here. | |||||||||
2. | Attend the California Fish and Game Commission meeting on the bear hunting proposals. The Commission meeting will be held in Monterey, CA on April 8, 2010: The La Grande Room 2600 Sand Dunes Dr Monterey, California 8:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. | ||||||||
(use these for ideas, but it's best to write your own personalized letter) | |||||||||
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Statement from Santa Cruz SPCA Executive Director, Lisa Carter: In a startling move, the California Department of Fish and Game is proposing a vast expansion of bear hunting in the state. This includes removing the limits on the number of bears that can be killed each year, expansion of hunts in both Modoc and Lassen Counties, allowing a new hunt in San Luis Obispo, and expanding the hunting dog training season and technology. Currently, approximately 1,700 black bears are trophy-hunted each year, often using packs of hunting dogs to track down and corner bears, allowing hunters to walk up to the bear and shoot it from point-blank range. It is outrageous to allow the expansion of this brutality, especially considering there is no scientific data to support an increase in hunting of these beautiful creatures. Please contact the Fish & Game commission by March 13, 2010 and demand protection of the health and stability of the black bear population. Lisa Carter Executive Director Santa Cruz SPCA |
