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Maine Chapter – Sierra Club

April 22, 2005

Volume 3  No. 10

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Urgent Action Needed on Bear Bills

THE ISSUE:

On April 28 at 1 p.m. the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee will hold a public hearing at the Augusta Civic Center on all bills affecting the hunting of black bears in Maine, which include setting out bait, chasing with hounds and trapping. The bills are:

LD 314  An Act To Prohibit Bear Baiting, prohibits bear baiting except when it is done to protect livestock, domestic animals, threatened or endangered wildlife, public or private property, public safety or commercial timberlands or for scientific or research purposes. Presented by Representative EDER of Portland

LD 628  An Act To Amend the Bear Hunting Laws prohibits the hunting of bears with dogs and authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create and issue permits that would allow a person to kill or register a bear that was caught in another person's trap.  Presented by Representative EBERLE of South Portland, and cosponsored by Representative DUDLEY of Portland and Representative EDER of Portland.

REASONS THE MAINE CHAPTER SUPPORTS THESE BILLS

The Sierra Club is not opposed to regulated hunting.  But our national wildlife policy insists on wildlife management which is based ‘on sufficient scientifically valid biological information...and techniques that avoid or minimize suffering and harassment.’

Clearly, the three practices, which include the use of bait, hounds and traps, do not meet those criteria. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has not provided sufficient evidence that these methods are based on science and, therefore, benefit the species.  And, unquestionably, the practices do not minimize suffering and harassment.

For example, baiting conditions bears to associate humans with food, often leading to dangerous confrontations.  Also, it is illegal in most states to attract game species with food.  And certainly shooting a bear with its head in a bucket of donuts violates the principle of fair chase, which a majority of sportsmen and a vast majority of the general public expect in the behavior of those who hunt.

Chasing bears with radio-collared dogs is most certainly harassment and then shooting an exhausted animal that has climbed a tree to escape can in no way be categorized as fair chase.

Finally, the suffering caused by bear traps is well documented and is so counter to the principle of fair hunting that it needs no elaboration. Maine is the only state in the nation that allows bear trapping.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Attend the hearing on the 28th and speak.  Be sure to take along 20 copies of your statement to give the Committee Clerk.  If you cannot attend but want to support any of the bills, mail 20 copies of your statement by the 24^th to:

Jeremy Lestage

Clerk for the IFW Committee

100 State Street Station

Augusta 04333

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

E-mail maine.chapter@sierraclub.org or call the Chapter office at 761-5616.

Your Legislators’ contact information can be found at:  http://janus.state.me.us/house/townlist.htm.

Maine Chapter Sierra Club

One Pleasant Street

Portland ME 04101

phone: (207) 761-5616

fax: (207) 773-6690

email: leanne.krudner@sierraclub.org

web: http://maine.sierraclub.org