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While Gothamist rarely ventures west of the Hudson (Hoboken excluded) the current bear hunt in Vernon, NJ caught our attention. In an attempt to thin out New Jersey's ursine overpopulation, a 6-day hunting season began today which brought out nearly 5,000 hunters to the state's northwest. As in 2003, animal rights groups attempted to block the event, to little success. Although we're not thrilled about the event, we're at least relieved that the hunters are required to rely on shotguns or more old fashioned rifles, and not more modern, laser-guided weapons that make the "sport" even less fair for the animals. Supporters claim the booming number of bears (now estimated to be 1,600 - 3,200) and limited land have forced them to venture into human territory, including local backyards and swimming pools. As of this afternoon, 54 bears had been killed. How do you feel about the event?
For more information on bear hunting, visit the NJ Fish and Wildlife site and the Bear Education and Research site.
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54 dead bears = sad.
If a bear mauled one of the protesters, would they change their mind?
If hunting the now thriving bears, keeps them venturing into human territory, including local backyards and swimming pools.
I say lock and load.
Or should we wait for children or adults to get mauled in their backyard while building a snowman?
I am not a hunter but when dangerous wild animals start to expand their territory into human populated areas, it is time to thin the herd. If hunting prevents dangerous encounters with bears, sounds good to me. Bears are really dangerous. Especially when they are hungry.
Kill em, grill em and make a nice rug.
Otherwise somone's kid may be the bears next meal. And when that happens they kill the bear anyway.
Well, if you put your damn suburban sprawl in Bear Country, you should not complain about bears.
Word, Toby.
Hunting bears is wrong!
Now where's my bison burger?
I'm with Toby -- it irks me that all of the articles about bear hunting in NJ talk about bears invading suburbia, while we're obviously the ones doing the invading. Developments are springing up everywhere -- there's really no place for wildlife to go at this point BUT our backyards.
sad to see bears get shot, but it's a necessary evil. if the population isn't controlled now, we're going to have bigger problems later. these aren't animals that we can just go out an spay/neuter and since they have no predators, hunting is the only other option
b - The problem is suburban sprawl invading what was once wilderness and bear habitat. These fools who want to live in a prefab look-alike house on a cul de sac where they have to drive their SUV everywhere deserve to get attacked by bears. They should all shut the hell up and gentrify Newark or something.
Toby, you're a moron. People are more important than bears. That's why we get to do whatever we want. Next time you're in the forest and a bear tries to eat you, you should let him.
Toby, you're a moron. People are more important than bears.
i have no idea what you're talking about, marcus, but i'd rather hang out with some bears than some assholes with guns from western new jersey.
I am originally from the 'bear country' in question, & my ladylove still lives there. I find it difficult to understand or justify these hunts (there was another one a few years ago) when a few simple steps can go a long way in minimizing unwanted human-bear interactions. 1) Bears come to residential areas mostly for food. Put your garbage out in the morning. Have lockable garbage cans. 2) New developments in hitherto undeveloped areas have a greater potential for bear encounters. If you're a dithering, wildlife-fearing softie, don't live there. Really. 3) If you're really worried, don't let your pets outside, although bears will probably only find them appetizing if they're starving. And you're flattering yourself if you think bears 'want to eat you.' Acorns are tastier than the average suburbanite. 4) People (evidently) need to be told plainly that black bears ALMOST NEVER attack humans. If a bear appears aggressive, make noise & try to frighten it; you almost certainly will. (If you're attacked, beat the hell out of the bear.) That's what the cops do if you call them; honk the horn, etc. Shooting them hasn't ever seemed necessary from what I've seen, but hey, my district's Republican.
People are more important than bears.
Word
Er, John, I would say that another way of putting it is:
-Animals are also 'important.'
-People seldom prove that they are 'more important' than bears.
-(For anyone who does): don't leave your BLOODY GARBAGE out.
I can't help but be conflicted by the bear hunt. On the one hand, the bears have less space due to sprawl; on the other hand, the safety of people is paramount. But the incredible stupidity of some of the people living out there (leaving food out for birds/cats, then being surprised when bears show up) tempers my concern for their safety.
The estimated number of bears is all over the place. There's a big difference between 1600 and 3200. Maybe the number killed in the next 4.5 days will give us some real insight into population numbers.
In any case, the new Highlands legislation is going to severely curtail (in some places, eliminate) development in West Jersey, so hopefully we'll reach an equilibrium on bears/sprawl in the next couple decades.
They should transport those bears to the East Village and let them maul some scrawny hipsters. And if you don't think people in NJ have the right kill these bears, I hope you will ask NYC to stop killing innocent rats. Otherwise you are a hypocrite.
I think they should call an open season on land developers.
Actually nola, the better idea would be to take these bears and let them loose in the Toll Bros. (and other crooked developers), corporate offices. Those rich fat cat developers would make a much better meal compared to "scrawny East Village Hipsters..."
ethos - Those land developers are so evil. I'm sure you live in a teepee and live off of nuts and berries, hypocrite.
shir - How do you know Toll or anyone else is "crooked"? At least those "rich fat cats" earn their own money, unlike the EV crybaby-types who wail about capitalism while sponging off mom and dad.
Well this 40 something So Westchester home & business owner smells a sprawl lobbyist...Just can't help reading about these folks....Remember Charles Kushner ?
http://www.fec.gov/press/press2004/20040630murs.html
http://www.fec.gov/press/press2004/20040630murs.html
and who is toll bros paying ?
http://www.nlpc.org/view.asp?action=viewArticle&aid=222
I don't live in a teepee out inthe woods, nola. That's my whole point. Too often lazy, misguided yuppies decide to move out to the "country" to "get away from it all" and be "closer to nature" without considering that "nature" may not want them there. They decide they shouldn't have to do such bothersome chores as clean up after themselves, secure their garbage, or keep an eye on their pets and young children (something you should do anywhere, common sense). Then they get their panites in a knot when the inevitible conflict with "nature" occurs.. and guess who always loses?
But you're wrong, Nola. Land Developers aren't evil, any more than errant black bears. They, like the bears, are just foraging for opportunities in order to feed themselves and their families (and their SUV's and corporate lifestyles.) However, it's obvious there's a little too many of them now, and they ought to be culled. ;)
Come to think of it, there are too many stupid people like Nola running around as well. But to declare an open season on Nola would be cruel and unfair, as he/she/it doesn't have the intelligence of even a bear. :D
I agree with it being the problem of the people who develop/buy land/houses in what is bear territory to begin with and then complain when a bear is in the yard. Stop the development, move back to where the people should be and leave the poor bears alone. They go on instinct and if the garbage smells good, then they will investigate. I'm not for deer hunting either and what is the hunter's excuse then? They don't break into homes or people fear attack from them.
ethos - Your argument is feeble enough without characterizing people who decide to move to the suburbs as "lazy and misguided". I thought nutty leftists liked freedom of choice? Are you saying a married couple with three kids has to live in the city? Spoken like a lonely bachelor who will never face that dilemma.
Tell me, did "nature" decide to jam NYC with apartment buildings, or did developers? And why should the city keep murdering rats? Can't people like you clean up after yourselves and secure your garbage? City dwellers should be the last people to offer lectures on whether or not nature should be tamed.
Anonymous - Kushner attempted to buy favor with politicians, something that unethical businessmen do in all walks of life. What is your point? That all developers are evil?
Shir - You haven't made much of a case against Toll if all you can offer is a loan from seven years ago that may have been (but doesn't seem to have been proven) illegal.
If you are going to go and kill a bear, at least put the killing to good use, store the meat, make a very warm coat, and use the bones for something or other. Thats the only way I can justify it.