 A New Jersey Black Bear
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Oct. 16, 2003 — An animal rights advocate from New Jersey has proposed an answer to suburbia's growing black bear problem: sterilization.
Stuart Chaifetz, a freelance illustrator and member of the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, proposed that the state allow volunteer veterinarians to use sterilizing chemicals on New Jersey's black bear population in lieu of moving forward with the six-day hunt, scheduled to run from Dec. 8 to 13.
"It's truly a new age for wildlife management," said Chaifetz. "People now have an alternative to killing. Let's end the hunt and move into the 21st century."
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Chaifetz proposed that 100 bears be sterilized immediately, and that an additional 300 to 400 be injected later this fall.
Governor McGreevy's spokesman, Micah Rasmussen, stated that the governor appreciated Chaifetz's proposal, instructing his environmental commissioner, Bradley M. Campbell, to determine the safety and efficacy of the sterilization process.
But Rasmussen added that the governor has no plans to call off the hunt, which he apparently believes is vital to public safety.
The sterilization chemical that Chaifetz suggests using, Neutersol, only has FDA approval for use in male puppies.
Federal law allows licensed veterinarians to use their discretion when administering it to other male animals.
Chaifetz said the injections would cost between $80 and $100 per bear and could be administered by volunteer teams of veterinarians, sharpshooters and wildlife biologists.
Some supporters of the sterilization method have suggested that wildlife managers could sterilize more bears when they perform their winter physicals on them. When they are through dragging the bears from their hibernation dens to weigh and tag them, they could give the females a contraceptive shot, the males could be given Neutersol, or the males and females could be surgically spayed and neutered.
Both sides of the bear control debate agree that some action must be taken, especially since this summer's encounters with bears have been dangerous, often ending in death for the bear and serious injury to people.
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Name: American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Primary Classification: Ursidae (Bears) Location: North America Habitat: Forest with thick understory vegetation and abundant food sources. Diet: Mostly vegetation, like roots, buds, shoots, fruits, nuts and berries. Also worms, grubs and fish. Size: Up to 6.5 ft in length and 660 lbs in weight. Description: Black or brown fur. Large body. Short tail. Large, erect ears. Small eyes. Prehensile lip. Cool Facts: They can remain dormant during winter for up to seven months, during which time they do not eat or relieve themselves. They are adept climbers and fast runners, able to exceed 30 mph. Conservation Status: Lower Risk Major Threat: Habitat loss. What Can I Do?: Visit the Black Bear Conservation Committee and Bear Trust International for information on how you can help. |
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