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2011 The Bear Education And Resource Group.

Next BEAR
Group Meeting

We meet the 2nd Wed. of every month:

February 8, 2012 (Wed) 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Hillcrest Community Center

1810 Macopin Rd., West Milford, NJ

A lot. First, know the facts:

The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife is so biased toward hunting that they will do and say anything in abuse of their authority – to promote the trophy hunting of black bears.

Some of their major offenses include:

Refusing to enforce NJ state garbage control laws

It’s proven that the only way to manage bears is to secure garbage. And in NJ it’s the law – a law that F&W refuses to enforce. Instead, they lure bears into neighborhoods with trash – and then use those incidents to drum up support for trophy hunting.

Killing bears to promote fear

NJ F&W then shoots these same garbage habituated bears – to promote fear and further their cause for trophy hunting. Cubs are also killed – or left orphaned.

Using junk science to record nuisance incidents

NJ F&W inflates nuisance incidents by duplicating state records. This has been proven by Dr. Ed Tavvs of Rutgers. They also record all complaints separately – even if all calls pertain to the same bear.

Moving cubs south into hunting zones

NJ F&W admits they take bears from their northern NJ habitat and move them south into hunting zones. The result? Disoriented bears turning up in urban areas – and frightened urban residents.

Promoting recreational trophy hunting against public opinion

99% of NJ residents do NOT hunt. And over 70% of comments submitted to F&W’s public hearing on their Black Bear Management Policy were AGAINST bear hunting. But they were ignored in favor of the 1% of residents who enjoy killing for fun.

NJ Fish & Wildlife’s crimes against nature:

Updated January 26, 2012

What can we do to protect bears,
when our state agency is acting
above the law?

A NJF&W representative claims we offer no alternative to hunting – this is not true. We have stated on public record: Our alternative is for them to do their job and enforce garbage control – the only proven method to manage bears. He also states that most females will be denned during the hunt. What he doesn’t tell you is that more than half of the bears killed by NJ trophy hunters are female bears and cubs.

And second: What we can do, together:

Continue to tell the truth

Use the talking points above and write a brief letter to one of the papers listed below, and to your local paper as well.

Bergen Record: letterstotheeditor@northjersey.com

Daily Record: letters@dailyrecord.com

New Jersey Herald: newsroom@njherald.com

Star Ledger: eletters@starledger.com

Trenton Times: letters@njtimes.com

Trentonian: letters@trentonian.com

Please cc Governor Christie at this address:

Governor Chris Christie • P.O. 001 • Trenton, NJ 08625

Join us

The BEAR Group is the only organization in the state who’s sole purpose is to protect black bears. And we need the help of everyone to continue. To join, click here.

Spread the word

Please use Facebook, Twitter, email, and word of mouth to tell your friends, family, and associates about how they can help stop black bear trophy hunting in New Jersey.

Bookmark us, and check back often

Bookmark www.SaveNJBears.com, and visit us to keep up with the latest issues and events pertaining to protecting New Jersey’s black bears. Thank you!

THANK YOU TO ALL
OF OUR PROTESTERS!

We are mourning the loss...and continuing the fight!

Thank you to everyone who came out to protest all this week in defense of our black bears. You are courageous souls who stood in the freezing cold against the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, and against the trophy hunters. You were there both for the bears – and for the majority of New Jersey residents who want humane alternatives to bear hunting. We commend you!

And while we are saddened by the senseless slaughter of these animals, we pledge that we are not going away. We are NOT going to stop fighting for them until we have won their protection.

At this writing, volunteers are preparing our annual fundraiser which will be mailed out tomorrow. Please look for it in the mail. If you are not on our mailing list, please join us with a donation of $20 or more by clicking the gold "donate" button at the top of our website.

Unlike the hunters, whose weapon is a gun – our weapon is our voice. And we will continue to use it. We will never stop speaking out for our bears…this is our pledge to them, and to you. Please remain strong as we fight together – against the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the trophy hunters.

Our bears are the symbol of what is wild in New Jersey…and in our hearts. And we have no plan to abandon them.

Thank you on behalf of those 464 bears slaughtered, but also on behalf of those who have survived.

Yours for our bears, and for what is still wild,

Eleanor Hoffman and Cathy McCartney

BEAR Group Chair and Co-Chair

Jeff Tittle of the Sierra Club. Jeff has been an outspoken defender of black bears since 2000. If you can, please also support the NJ Sierra Club.

Next BEAR Group Meeting

Please attend our next meeting...we are here for our bears, and for the people who love them, and who are saddened because of this senseless trophy hunt.

February 8, 2012 (Wed) 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Hillcrest Community Center
1810 Macopin Rd., West Milford, NJ