Animal rights groups are enraged by a state agency’s five-year black bear management plan that also allows a bear hunt to proceed in New Jersey this year. They plan to sue to block the hunt and they are urging residents to withhold votes from Democrats in November elections if the hunt goes ahead.
Problematic bear activity surged in New Jersey last summer, prompting the Murphy administration to go against one of the governor’s campaign promises and bring back the state’s black bear hunt. Now, despite a significant drop in reported bear incidents so far this year, the hunt is being allowed to continue for the foreseeable future.
The New Jersey Fish and Game Council approved the five-year black bear management plan last week. If that plan is signed by Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, this year’s bear hunt will begin on Oct. 9.
