Posted on 11/14/2002 7:38:26 AM PST by ZULU
11/14/02 - Posted 12:08:04 AM from the Daily Record newsroom Feeding bears against N.J. law McGreevey signs bill in effort to safeguard people, property By James A. Duffy, Daily Record
Leaving food or garbage to be eaten by New Jersey's growing black bear population is now illegal under a measure signed into law Wednesday by Gov. James E. McGreevey.
The law bans the intentional feeding of black bears in order to protect people and limit property damage. As the number of bears has grown, the animals increasingly have been roaming into populated areas.
Thirty years ago, there were fewer than 100 black bears in New Jersey. Wildlife officials estimate that there are now about 1,900 black bears spread over 16 of New Jersey's 21 counties. The largest concentrations are in Morris, Sussex, Passaic and Warren counties.
"It really is a critical step for the protection of both humans and bears, and it's such an obvious thing," said Barbara Dyer of the Humane Society of the United States' regional office in Mount Olive .
"You don't feed bears, either intentional or unintentional," she said. "I think this is a very important step in terms of education so we all learn how to live correctly. We have to be responsible for what we do every day."
So far this year, there have been 55 incidents in which bears have broken into a house to search for food or have tried to gain entry. There were 28 such incidents last year.
"One person who feeds a bear creates a risk for the entire neighborhood," McGreevey said.
Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell said refraining from feeding bears is "part of coexisting with a rebounding wildlife population."
The officials advised homeowners that garbage should be stored in airtight containers in a secure area such as a shed or garage.
But that's far from a cure-all, said six-year Knowlton resident Tim Whitford, whose garbage and shed have been ransacked by black bears almost daily for the last four years.
"People have to understand what these creatures can do," Whitford said. "They stole my garbage can when they couldn't get it open. And they just sit in the woods and look at me. It's very irritating."
Whitford said he isn't against the new law but said more should be done -- such as teaching school children about the dangers bears pose.
"Start training people how to deal with a bear," he said. "They're very smart creatures, and they're going to get around stuff. Hopefully, nobody will get hurt."
The law specifically ensures that people who unintentionally feed bears by leaving bait out for deer, for example, will not be penalized. But violators of the no-feeding law will first receive a written warning. Subsequent violations can result in a fine of up to $1,000.
The measure was sponsored by Assemblymen E. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, and Guy R. Gregg, R-Washington Township, and state Sen. Robert E. Littell, R-Franklin.
Bears remain a game species in New Jersey, although there hasn't been a bear hunting season since 1970. A fish and wildlife panel stopped short of sanctioning a limited hunt two years ago when then-Gov. Christie Whitman urged a management plan that called for public awareness, among other steps.
W. Scott Ellis, an official with the state Fish and Game Council, said the state still is trying to decide whether to sanction a hunting season this year.
"Everything's on the table," he said.
James A. Duffy can be reached at jaduffy@gannett.com or (973) 267-7947.
Hmmmm. Quite a dilemma for the average Garden State resident. Should they pull out their shotgun and blow a bear's @ss away while its chewing up their arm? To do so would violate a local gun law. On the other hand, allowing the bear to chew up their arm or other vital parts, they might be accused of "feeding the bear".
"The officials advised homeowners that garbage should be stored in airtight containers in a secure area such as a shed or garage. "
Hahahahahahahahahhhhhaaaaaa!!!
What idiots occupy government beaurocracies!!! Do they REALLY think an animal that open up a car trunk with its claws like we can open a can of chicken will be detered by such measures??
New Jersey needs somebody who thinks like Daniel Boone in its state wildlife agencies.
LOL ..thatsa good one
From the article:
The measure was sponsored by Assemblymen E. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, and Guy R. Gregg, R-Washington Township, and state Sen. Robert E. Littell, R-Franklin.
These guys are from my district. Gregg is a leader of a group of conservative NJ legislators called the "Mountain Men". Scott Garrett is now my Congressman, having recently been elected to the House (with support from the President's Administration). The ratio in my county is 4-1 Republican. These are the folks who sponsored the bill.
They are pro-RKBA, pro-tax cut, anti- gubmint growth conservatives representing a conservative area of NJ. Check the county by county 2000 election map and you'll see the top left corner of NJ was red. That's where these guys are from, that's where the bears are, and that's where I live.
I have no problem with this new law. People should not feed the bears. It creates a big problem for all property owners.
I hope Texas is happy to have another northeastern transplant. I live in Sussex County, New Jersey and I couldn't be happier. Life is what you make it. I met and married my wife here. I just bought a home here. I am starting a business here. I am realizing the American dream here. I am glad that you were able to find happiness elsehwhere if you couldn't find it here.
You know, when you paint with such a broad brush (like calling New Jersey a s***hole), you display a rudeness that I doubt any real Southerner would display. My Southern friends and relatives would certainly show more decorum than that, even if they privately held hostile sentiments. They would be much more decent and tactful than that. But I suppose the good peoplw of Texas take you as you are without much complaint. Good luck in Texas.
When I grew up, there was only a sales tax of 5%. Now it is 6% (after having been 7% under Florio for a while), there is an income tax that has been imposed and raised at least twice, gambling in Atlantic City - all of that revenue pouring into state coffers and still the governing class cries about a lack of money.
When I grew up, it wasn't complicated to put up a building or start a business - I know, because my Dad did it. Now, you need a permit from 10 different agencies, the rules of which often conflict with each other.
When I grew up, you could travel to most places in the state without being in a perpetual parking lot. Now - well, if you've been outside of Sussex County, perhaps a bit closer to Newark and NYC, you'll know what I mean.
When I grew up, nobody was going to slap you in jail for 5 years for owning an "ugly" rifle that functioned exactly the same as a "pretty" rifle for which there is no penalty. Nor could you serve five years in the slammer for each metal box with a spring in it if the metal box was too big. Now (since 1990, in fact), you have to worry about jail time just for owning what you owned a few years ago, and what most Americans can still own without a second thought.
When I grew up, the letter of the law was obeyed (mostly), and the NJ Supreme Court was actually respected a bit. Now, the liberal monkeys have just decided that the law only gets enforced if it feels OK to do it, and as a result, NJ is once again inflicting Lautenberg on the rest of the country.
Sorry if you were offended by the tone of my last post, or even this one, but NJ has changed from a reasonably free, uncrowded state into NYC Lite. I wish you continued luck and happiness in Sussex Cty and NJ, but you are still subject to the same laws that the ultra-libs have imposed on the rest of the state.
BTW, I didn't leave the state because I hated what it had become - I did it for several, unrelated, reasons. It is just that, with the exception of leaving some family, friends and familiar surroundings behind, I'm happy that I did leave.
To Pennsylvania? Where all the Trenton bureaucrats live?
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