New Jersey Annual Bear Hunt Extended Until Saturday

Dec 14, 2015 09:05 AM EST

Division of Fish and Wildlife personnel use an integrated approach to managing New Jersey's black bear population, fostering coexistence between people and bears.

(Photo : New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife) Division of Fish and Wildlife personnel use an integrated approach to managing New Jersey's black bear population, fostering coexistence between people and bears.

On Sunday, New Jersey local authorities just announced an extended period as part of the state's yearly black bear hunt when hunters did not meet the target of 20 percent reduction in black bear population.

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Just last week, hunters slaughtered 472 bears during a period of six days which is part of this annual bear hunt, where animal rights groups condemn this act. The announcement entails that this bear hunt will continue from Wednesday to Saturday this week.

According to Bob Martin who is New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, this harvest number that was recorded last week apparently fell short of a six day wildlife management goal, where this is based on extensive science and research since 2010. With this four day extension, the harvest number will be reached to keep the black bear population healthy and sustainable, and also, reduce potential conflicts wih humans.

Hunters who participated in this New Jersey hunt killed 600 black bears in 2010 but in 2014, this number fell to 272. This year, the total number of black bear population in the state is estimated at 3,500 even before this hunt, compared to only 100 bears in the 1970s.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, black bears dwell in all 21 counties where the most dense population, estimated to reach 3,500, is located in northern New Jersey. Over the past five years, research have indicated, including surveys and data from tagged bears, den studies and reproduction including density analyses, confirming that northwestern parts of New Jersey all have a very dense black bear population and the most productive one in the country, with high cub survival rates.

Local state authorities defend how this hunt is a necessary strategy to control and prevent threats to humans. Even if they acknowledge how bear attacks are extremely rare, revealing data from January 1 to November 20 of this year that bear related sightings and nuisance reports already dropped to 24 percent compared to last year's.

Tagsnew jersey bear hunt, black bear hunt, black bears