REP. KLARIDES-DITRIA & REP. MICHEL OPPOSE PROPOSED BEAR HUNTING MEASURE

Hunting bears is unsafe, unnecessary and will not help reduce interactions

State Representatives Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R – Beacon Falls, Derby, Seymour) and David Michel (D – Stamford), chairs of the CT Animal Advocacy Caucus, along with members of the caucus and advocates from the CT Coalition to Protect Bears strongly oppose legislation opening the door to a proposed bear hunting season.

“As co-chair of the CT Animal Advocacy Caucus, I can only express disappointment in the way the bill is presented,” said Rep. Michel. “According to experts, hunting in the wild will not fix the issue of habituated bears. Hunting certainly is not safe in residential areas, where most interactions take place. DEEP has unfortunately been pushing for hunting for many years, which is concerning.”

“Killing bears doesn’t work, and the proposal fails the people of Connecticut and its native bear population,” said Jo-Anne Basile, Executive Director of CT Votes for Animals and a member of the Coalition. “Without a robust and effective program of education and Bear Smart deterrents, such as bear-resistant trash cans, you will never resolve bears showing up in your backyard, no matter how many you kill.”

Instead, Rep. Michel and Rep. Klarides-Ditria support the intents of House Bill 5160, which includes a conflict-reduction community grant program that provides funding to communities for bear-resistant trash cans and electric fencing around chickens and beehives. The bill would also ban anyone from intentionally or unintentionally feeding black bears, establish bear cub rehabilitation guidelines, and start a system where farms will be compensated for damage caused by bears.

“As humans, we have the ability to quickly change our behavior when it causes conflict with others and it’s important that we make certain state law provides the proper balance to protect wildlife while also preventing human-animal encounters,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “I encourage my colleagues to support House Bill 5160 because it strikes that delicate balance by providing protections for wildlife, education for Connecticut homeowners, rehabilitation guidelines and new orphaned cub management protocols. It also empowers DEEP to use non-lethal management techniques. These commonsense, non-lethal methods are humane, effective, and proven.”

The CT Coalition to Protect Bears was formed by leading animal and environmental advocacy groups because of misleading information circulating about black bears in Connecticut, including that they need to be managed with a bear hunt. You can download the new report here on “The Truth About CT’s Black Bears.”

DEEP’s last bear population study that was made public in 2016. Since that time, the agency has failed to use this data to help local town managers anticipate areas of possible bear habitat.

“DEEP publishes its estimate of the number of bears in our state using the number of bear sightings. It’s time education and science become tools in their Wildlife Division toolbox,” said Rep. Michel.

“Studies have shown time and again that it is food availability, not bear population numbers, that cause negative human-bear interactions,” said the CT Coalition to Protect Black Bears.

The Environment Committee held a public hearing on this issue on March 10th.