Black bear hunt

[John Olexa]

We are hoping to get bill H.B.371 passed here in MD to do away with Marylands black bear hunt. MD just had there first hunt in 50 years :(
This is what I just wrote to our 2 Senators. Wish us luck!


Feb.23 2005

John Olexa
6625 Bitty La.
LaPlata, MD 20646

Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senate
709 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510-0001

Stop Black Bear Hunts in MD
Support Bill H.B.371

I am writing to express my sadness and disappointment that MD allowed
the first trophy hunt of MD black bears in more then 50 years to go forward.
There was no rational for a bear hunt in MD. This trophy hunt did not target
"problem " bears. The hunt allowed by the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources killed twenty bears. The very first was a nine month old cub
who was just 84 pounds, no bigger than a golden retriever! The hunter
said he was going to mount the head on his wall. This hunt went forward
despite a decision by a joint legislative committee that recommended
the hunt be stopped.

According to an independent study of MD voters from across the state,
an overwhelming 73% of Marylanders stated that they would prefer state
officials address bear conflicks using non-lethal measures such as public
education, trash management and rubber pellets and loud noises to
frighten bears away, rather then hunting. In Western MD 55% prefer
non-lethal methods.

This recent bear hunt was biologically reckless. Bears were not
overpopulated in the state and had taken 50 years for MD black bear to
come back from near extinction. Moreover, bears do not pose a public
threat. There has never been a single bear attack in Maryland.

Please support bill H.B.371 and help stop the killing of black bears
In Maryland!

Sincerely


John Olexa

[Amanda]

Good Luck John. I wish people would stop hunting or killing animals for sports. I just don't see the point.

[krazy4birds]

I am with you there John...good luck

[JustJo]

Good letter John. Living in Virginia I haven't heard of any problems with bears in Maryland either. Keep us posted.

Jo

[Magnum]

I sure hope they listen. Geeez, 84 pound bear? How can they possibly call that anything but pathetic. That is so sad. :( When does this bill get addressed? I wish you all the luck in the world on this, and please keep us updated.

[John Olexa]

I sure hope they listen. Geeez, 84 pound bear? How can they possibly call that anything but pathetic. That is so sad. :( When does this bill get addressed? I wish you all the luck in the world on this, and please keep us updated.


Any day now! thats why I faxed my letters today & mailed a copy out. I wanted to make sure they got something today. thats how close the timing is.

[Magnum]

John, is this something that residents outside of MD can send a fax on? I can fax one tomorrow if you think it will help.

[John Olexa]

John, is this something that residents outside of MD can send a fax on? I can fax one tomorrow if you think it will help.

I'm sure there only interested in MD residents i.e. voters ;) . But what the heck, sure can't hurt!
Thanks Magnum

[Magnum]

Okay John, I was able to come up with letter here at work.....lol. Please feel free to post any comments, and or adjustments you would feel that need to be made. ;)

It has been brought to my attention the awful black bear trophy hunts being allowed in your state. I may not be a citizen of the state of Maryland, but I am a citizen of the United States, therefore I feel it is my right to express my opinion on the matter.

Black Bears are not carnivorous, thus do not pose a threat to humans, pets, or farm animals. The primary diet of the Black Bear consists of fruit, nuts, plants, and insect larvae, not meat. Their breeding habits are far from prolific, and they usually don’t start until they are between the ages of 2 and 4 years old. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the cub survival rate to the age of a year old is 50%, leaving less than 75 cubs born since 1986.

The public complaints in regard to bears recorded between 1998-2003 by The Wildlife and Heritage Service were mainly trash related and bird feeder raiding. All other complaint categories were quite minimal in comparison. In the survey conducted by the Responsive Management of Harrisburg, Virginia, an overwhelming 90% of the Maryland respondents feel very strongly that bears have the right to live in Maryland, and those future generations should be able to enjoy this resource, even if they never get the opportunity to see a bear. Utilizing non-lethal methods to teach the bears human boundaries, as well as educating the population of humans the proper disposal of trash would greatly reduce the complaints in the western region of Maryland.

It has taken many years to bring the Black Bear population back to the measly amount that are here today, so why would the state of Maryland turn its back on this beautiful species and allow trophy hunters to prey on them? I understand a majority of Maryland citizens would rather see non-lethal methods to be utilized than the unleashing of trophy hunters, so please help the citizens of Maryland to protect the Black Bears by supporting H.B. 371.

Sincerely,
Blah, blah, blah :)

[John Olexa]

Very nice!!!, that will work

Thanks again!