Events

BEAR HUNT PROTESTS: December 5 - 10th, 2011

Dear Friends,


Everyone who is looking at this webpage needs to get involved. Silence=Death. We must expose the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) by protesting, bearing witness, documenting the hunt, doing massive outreach and reaching all bear supporters throughout New Jersey. If you hear anyone say that they are upset by the bear hunt taking place have them contact us at info@savenjbears.com to become a part of our CUBS Program - Connecting and Unifying Bear Supporters.


We had a great turnout at our November 14th Crimes Against Nature Protest at DFW headquarters in Trenton. But for those of you who were unable to attend, we are currently putting together short videos of some of the speakers. Jeff Tittel, Director, New Jersey Sierra Club is featured in this youtube video.

In the of wake bad news, we thought it would be good for all of our members to hear our speakers talk about our overall campaign objectives.

PLANNED ACTIONS - Note: If you can only attend one event, please make it Saturday's protest.

1. Monday, December 5 - Friday, December 9
We will have a presence at the Franklin bear weigh station (location below). It will be during daylight hours and the times will vary. If you want to help during this time, please email Angi or call the APLNJ office at 732-446-6808 for additional information.

2. Monday, December 5 - Friday, December 9
Evening vigils for the bears will be held at the below location from 6pm - 7:30pm.

3. Saturday, December 10 from 12noon - 4pm- MAJOR PROTEST
Please join us at any time during this expanded protest. Location below.

4. In the meantime, please write letters to the editor of your local paper condemning the hunt. Use talking points below.

LOCATION:
Former Forest Maintenance Building.
20 Route 23 North
Franklin, NJ 07416
Franklin
Talking Points:
1. The bear hunt is an ineffective, cruel trophy hunt. Ninety percent of the public objects to trophy hunting and cruelty.
2. Bear hunting has never been about public safety, reducing nuisance complaints or lowering the population. PA and NY both have rising complaints despite annual hunts.
3. The only way to lower the bear population is by reducing their already naturally low fertility rate. You do this by denying access to unnatural food sources. In fact, nationwide studies show this is the only effective solution. Well documented scientific studies show bears are a self-regulating species, whose reproduction is tied to food supply and available habitat. More information: Bear.org
4. To protect animals who live outside: Use highly effective and inexpensive electric fencing for both small and large areas. DFW recommends fencing to protect chicken coops and beehives. An animal sanctuary in Blairstown uses electric fencing on large pastures.
5. Ontario public officials say that cubs and yearlings who are orphaned in hunts are much more likely to become nuisance bears in the absence of their mothers.
6. Bear hunts are used as a tool to recruit and retain declining hunting license sales throughout the United States. The DFW is partnered with the gun and ammunitions industry to recruit and retain hunters. Since 1990, the sales of hunting licenses have declined 43% in New Jersey.
7. To learn more about the timid and gentle native black bears, please visit the BEAR Group