TRENTON, NJ "” New Jersey wildlife officials said charges may be filed against activists who are attempting to rehabilitate a female bear wounded in this month's bear hunt.
The anti-hunt activists need a license to handle a bear, said Amy Cradic, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
She said "enforcement action will be taken" if officials determine that the group is feeding or handling the bear.
Group members who wish to remain anonymous admit they are feeding and medicating the bear without the needed licenses, according to a report Wednesday in The Star-Ledger newspaper.
"The state is saying that killing and maiming a bear is right and that being compassionate to a wounded animal is wrong," Angi Metler, who is director of the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, told the newspaper. "When did things stop making sense?"
The state's first hunt in 33 years ended Dec. 13 after six days. There were 328 confirmed kills, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife said. Of that number, 119 were males, and 209 were females.
The wounded bear, a 2-year-old female of 150 to 200 pounds, was spotted by a woman in a tree in a northern New Jersey backyard less than a day after the hunt ended, Metler said.
It stayed there, and the woman noticed blood at the base of the tree and a wound to a rear leg. State regulations require hunters who wound a bear to track the animal and kill it.
After speaking to veterinarians, the anti-hunt group gave the bear antibiotics in food each day, and the two-week treatment is to end this weekend, Metler said.
The bear "responded very well to medicine mixed with peanut butter, high-fat muffins and maple syrup," she said.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE WANT TO HELP THIS BEAR, AND THATS ALL GOOD, BUT THEY SHOULD OF CONTACTED THE STATE TO INFORM THEM OF A INJURED BEAR. WITH THAT SAID, IF AND WHEN THE STATE FINDS THE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD BE FINED AND JAILED UNDER THE LAW, THE BEAR SHOULD BE SET FREE ONCE THE STATE FEELS THE BEAR IS HEALTHY ENOUGH, IF THE BEAR ISN'T HEALTHY TO BE IN THE WILD, BUT CAN STILL LIVE PUT IT IN A ZOO, IT DESERVES THAT MUCH.
as long as they didn't interfear with the hunt and assume personal responsibility with regards to contact with a wounded bear i could care less what they are doing. as a hunter i would have just shot it, but different strokes for different folks. if the bear doesn't respond to treatment and is unhealthy they should arrange to have it put down.
i can't say i fault them for not getting a "bear handling" license ...sounds like another unjustified govt regulation/tax to me. the bear is on her land, in her tree ...if she want's to pet the damn thing the more power to her.
Has it dawned on anyone that if these morons handle this bear for a long enough period it could lead to the bear becoming complacent around humans. What could be more dangerous than a bear not afraid of humans, how would you feel as a parent of small children knowing that it is possible that there is a bear around that may walk up on your kid expecting food. In my opinion bears that have no fear of humans are an accident waiting to happen. This issue should have been handled by professional wildlife officals trained in wildlife rehabilitation, if they deamed it the solution. These professionals know how to help wildlife without sacrificing natural fear of humans. I would expect that this bear will become a nuisance bear in the future, hopefully just with garbage cans and not with someones kid or pet. Just my opinion though!
__________________ Aint no drug getz me more pumped--Bowhunter fer life!!
SAVE EARTH, ITS THE BEST HUNTIN SPOT I KNOW! ps...I hate stupid people
Next Headline " Woman attacked by Bear ". How stupid do you have to be to try to keep a wild animal without the proper training or equipment. Didnt we learn anything from Mike Tyson and his tigers ?
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Take the "Training Wheels" off your bow. Go traditional !
Do you believe these idiots????
Aint no drug getz me more pumped--Bowhunter fer life!!
