In 1994, Oregon voters approved Measure 18, which banned the hunting of
cougars and black bears with hounds. In 1996, when hunters attempted to
overturn that measure, voters spoke out again overwhelmingly in support of
bear protection.
Now, the federal government is attempting an end-run around Oregon's laws.
The USDA's notorious Wildlife Services (WS) agency, which spends millions
of taxpayer dollars to poison, shoot, and trap wildlife, is proposing to
kill more black bears in Oregon, ostensibly to mitigate tree damage by
bears to suit the timber industry.
It is unacceptable that lethal control be implemented when non-lethal
timber management practices and other preventative methods are available
and can be used instead. The removal of small patches of bark and even
partial girdling of trees does not necessarily cause the death of the
tree. Nevertheless, WS uses this as a justification for killing bears.
Large carnivores are already under pressure due to loss and fragmentation
of available habitat.
According to the USDA's "public scoping" notice,
lethal control methods could include "shooting, hunting with the
assistance of dogs, euthanasia in conjunction with cage traps, leg snares,
and body snares," as well as urging landowners to "encourage recreational
bear hunting on their property as a means of removing problem bears."
These lethal control measures are completely unwarranted. Studies have
shown that bear damage can be reduced through good timber management
practices, especially pruning. Other timber management practices such as
delayed thinning, urea fertilization, stand diversity, and even genetic
selection may also successfully reduce bear damage, along with
establishing supplemental bear feeding programs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The USDA is soliciting public comments to assist with the preparation of
an Environmental Assessment of bear damage control until Monday, August 5.
Send your comments to the USDA encouraging only non-lethal control for
black bears in western Oregon:
Kim Wagner
USDA/APHIS/WS
6135 NE 80th Ave.
Suite A-8
Portland, OR 97218
ph: 503-326-2346
fax: 503-326-2367
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