There is outcry from activists working to keep California's black bears safe in response to a bill that would allow hunters to chase and scare bears up into trees by using dogs, a practice called 'hounding' banned more than a decade ago.
Tara CampbellThere is outcry from activists in response to a bill that would bring back the use of hound dogs to hunt black bears in California, a banned practice.There is outcry from activists working to keep California's black bears safe in response to a bill that would bring back the use of hound dogs to hunt bears.
"It is cruel in the worst of ways," Ann Bryant of the Bear League said. Bryant and the Bear League are leading the opposition to Assembly 1038, introduced by Assembly member Heather Hadwick, representing Tahoe.Number of bears being hit and killed by cars in Tahoe continues to soar Officials are warning drivers in the Lake Tahoe area this Labor Day weekend that bears are still getting killed by cars at high rates. Hounding is the practice of putting GPS collars on packs of dogs who then chase down bears for hours, eventually retreating up a tree and that's when the hunters step in. "Then they look up, then they shoot the bear because like I said, he can't fly away,, he doesn't have wings," Bryant said. "They shoot him. And then he tumbles down through the branches, sometimes just breaking bones on the way down, getting badly injured, sometimes dying on the way down or from the gunshot, and then the dogs attack him." In a statement, assembly member Hadwick says the bill is intended to control the black bear population, reading in part: "California's black bear population is out of control, more than doubling in the past decade. Human-bear encounters have skyrocketed as a result, leading to ecological disruption, property damage, and the first confirmed fatal black bear attack in the state.""This is not a bill that even remotely addresses any bear-human conflict issue, any population issue with bears," she said.Last week, a bear that's been breaking into homes in the Tahoe area was captured and sent to a Colorado sanctuary. According to the state's 2024 Bear Conservation Plan, there is strong evidence that black bear populations have been stable over the past decade.Bryant pointed to people as being largely responsible for the bump in bear sightings and conflicts. "Why don't we clean up our trash issues and stop putting bird feeders out and not treat them anymore and yell at them and stomp our feet? You get out of here. You go on. You get out of here. We can do that by ourselves. We don't need hounds," she said. Hardwick's bill hasn't yet made it to committee and is expected to undergo hearings in the coming weeks.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Target Boycott Backlash: Left-Wing Activists and the Unintended Consequences of 'Virtue Signaling'Left-wing activists are calling for a boycott of Target over the company's decision to roll back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The boycott, led by socialist pundit Nina Turner, argues that Target is discriminating against minority-owned businesses. However, critics point out that the boycott could actually harm the very businesses it aims to support.
Read more »
Civil rights activists call for a Target boycott after retailer backs away from diversity programsCivil rights activists have gathered outside Target's Minneapolis headquarters to call for a boycott of the retailing giant over its decision to phase out its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Read more »
Utah Black Chamber Honors Black History Month, Launches Donation Drive for California Fire VictimsFOX 13 News spoke with the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce about the significance of Black History Month and their ongoing donation drive to aid California fire victims. The Chamber emphasizes the importance of recognizing Black history as American history and highlights Utah's own rich Black history, including the story of pioneer Green Flake. They are collecting essential household items and toiletries to deliver to those affected by the California wildfires.
Read more »
Powerful Atmospheric River to Bring Relief from Fire Weather to Southern CaliforniaA strong atmospheric river set to hit Northern California on Monday and Los Angeles County on Tuesday is expected to bring much-needed relief to Southern California, which has been battling a devastating fire weather season for months. The storm is expected to be more intense in Northern California, with heavy rainfall and snowfall anticipated. In Southern California, the storm is expected to bring light-to-moderate rainfall, but there is a slight chance of mudslides and debris flows in recently burned areas.
Read more »
Immigrant rights activists vow to disrupt ICE raids in CaliforniaA coalition of immigrant activists calling itself 'the Community Self-Defense Coalition' says it will alert the community to ICE agents.
Read more »
Trump's 'War on California' Continues Despite LA VisitPresident Trump's visit to California to view the damage from the Palisades Fire was marked by both civility and continued political tension. While he expressed concern for the victims and embraced Gov. Newsom, Trump reiterated demands for California to adopt a voter ID system and redirect water resources to the south, despite existing water reserves and legal complexities. He also threatened further ICE raids targeting undocumented farm workers, renewed offshore oil drilling, and challenged California's air quality regulations and electric vehicle incentives. California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, vowed to resist these measures, leading to a potential legal battle.
Read more »