In New Jersey, it’s illegal to feed bears—intentionally or through improperly stored garbage. Although studies show that unwanted bear incidents drop significantly when garbage is properly stored, the Division does not enforce this law. Instead, they turn the other way while thousands of bear country residents—especially on garbage day—violate the Bear Bear Feeding Ban (NJSA 23:2A-14).

And when bears are inevitably attracted to human environments by the smell of garbage, the Division traps and shoots the bear—often on the homeowner's property. They then use these same bear nuisance incidents to drum up support for bear hunting.

The Division is failing to enforce the feeding ban and as a result sabotaging non-lethal bear management.

Why?

The NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife does not protect wildlife. The Division (formerly Fish & Game) exists to regulate hunting, and to serve the interests of the hunting community. Salaries of Fish & Wildlife employees are paid for via the sale of hunting licenses and their existence is contingent on killing animals.

Since the early 1990s, there has been a significant drop in the sales of hunting licenses. Approximately 1% of New Jersey’s population hunts. Decline in hunting can be attributed to access, time, cost, loss of open space as well as an attitudinal shift away from blood sports.

Because of this, the Division has been very active in recruiting new hunters, even encouraging children as young as 10 years old to hunt.

And black bears, our largest land mammal, is a boon to business and clearly in the center of their crosshairs.

How else does the Division of Fish & Wildlife lay the groundwork for trophy hunting?

The Division inflates population statistics by encouraging residents to contact them regarding bear sightings. But whether a resident calls to complain or to ask a question, the call is logged as a nuisance complaint. This manipulated data is further compromised, as 10 calls about one bear are recorded as 10 complaints. The Division then uses these complaints to justify a need for a bear hunt.

When game officers shoot "nuisance" bears, they reinforce the misconception that bears are dangerous. Yet the bears they kill are targeted for knocking over trash, emptying birdfeeders, and lapping up honey from beehives. On rare occasions, when home (or garage) entry is involved, it is the bears that are blamed. The Division refuses to address the true source of the problem: a homeowner who did not bearproof their property.

Division employees—who should be non-biased—argue publicly in favor of black bear hunting and align themselves with hunters. This state-sanctioned hunting organization has made it clear how eager they are to gun for New Jersey’s largest and most majestic land animal—our black bear.

And it’s our job not to let this happen.

Please join us today...and help us promote education and responsible government...and be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

A pro-hunt agency...with a pro-hunt agenda

Vernon, NJ 2009—BEAR Group members protest bear shootings by Vernon Police Dept.

photo credit: BEAR Group member Theo Braakmann