On Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Game Council voted to amend state game codes and allow a bear hunt to resume in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy and DEP officials had said bears have become much more prevalent near people’s homes.
Murphy had previously pledged to get rid of the state’s bear hunt and reduce the bear population with nonlethal tactics. He says the latter part of his platform isn’t changing.
“People are so angry right now, they’re very upset,” said Doreen Frega, special projects director of the Animal Protection League of New Jersey. She brought thousands of signed petitions protesting the bear hunt to Tuesday’s hearing.
Former state Sen. Ray Lesniak told NJ Spotlight News last week that he will sue the Murphy administration to stop the bear hunt from happening.
All that’s left for bear season to return is for Murphy to officially approve the decision.
