Press of Atlantic City
Four hunt opponents arrested, two-day total of bears killed reaches 202
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
VERNON, N.J. (AP) - Four opponents of the ongoing bear hunt in New Jersey were arrested Wednesday and faced possible charges under New Jersey's hunter harassment laws, officials said.
The arrests came on the third day of the six-day hunt. Over the first two days, 202 bears were killed, state officials said.
The names of the four people and allegations against them were not immediately released. Karen Hershey, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the arrests occurred at Wawayanda State Park but said no other details were available.
"At this point, they're being processed. They face possible charges of hunter harassment," she said.
It is illegal to obstruct or make physical contact with a person who is legally hunting in New Jersey, to get in between a hunter and his or her prey or to attempt to influence the behavior of the prey to interfere with the hunting. Violations are punishable by fines of between $100 and $500.
A group of animal rights activists have maintained a steady presence at Wawayanda State Park, one of five locations where hunters take the bears they've shot to be registered by the state. On opening day of the hunt, they wore bright orange "Wounded Bear Rescue" T-shirts and pledged to go out into the woods to look for wounded animals and keep tabs on hunters.
The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and the Bear Education and Resource group sued the state last week in a late bid to stop the hunt, but two courts denied the request. Telephone messages left Wednesday morning with both organizations were not immediately returned.
The hunt, New Jersey's second in 35 years, is being held to reduce the number of black bears in the wake of rising numbers of nuisance complaints and bear sightings.
On Tuesday, the second day of the hunt, 66 bears were killed. On opening day, 136 bears were killed. In the last hunt, in 2003, 328 bears were killed.
Besides the arrests, the state is investigating one allegation of illegal baiting, according to Martin McHugh, director of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. Under New Jersey law, hunters are banned from shooting from a tree stand or blind if they are less than 300 feet from a bait pile.
Four hunt opponents arrested, two-day total of bears killed reaches 202
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
VERNON, N.J. (AP) - Four opponents of the ongoing bear hunt in New Jersey were arrested Wednesday and faced possible charges under New Jersey's hunter harassment laws, officials said.
The arrests came on the third day of the six-day hunt. Over the first two days, 202 bears were killed, state officials said.
The names of the four people and allegations against them were not immediately released. Karen Hershey, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the arrests occurred at Wawayanda State Park but said no other details were available.
"At this point, they're being processed. They face possible charges of hunter harassment," she said.
It is illegal to obstruct or make physical contact with a person who is legally hunting in New Jersey, to get in between a hunter and his or her prey or to attempt to influence the behavior of the prey to interfere with the hunting. Violations are punishable by fines of between $100 and $500.
A group of animal rights activists have maintained a steady presence at Wawayanda State Park, one of five locations where hunters take the bears they've shot to be registered by the state. On opening day of the hunt, they wore bright orange "Wounded Bear Rescue" T-shirts and pledged to go out into the woods to look for wounded animals and keep tabs on hunters.
The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and the Bear Education and Resource group sued the state last week in a late bid to stop the hunt, but two courts denied the request. Telephone messages left Wednesday morning with both organizations were not immediately returned.
The hunt, New Jersey's second in 35 years, is being held to reduce the number of black bears in the wake of rising numbers of nuisance complaints and bear sightings.
On Tuesday, the second day of the hunt, 66 bears were killed. On opening day, 136 bears were killed. In the last hunt, in 2003, 328 bears were killed.
Besides the arrests, the state is investigating one allegation of illegal baiting, according to Martin McHugh, director of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. Under New Jersey law, hunters are banned from shooting from a tree stand or blind if they are less than 300 feet from a bait pile.
