AR-News: (US-MD) Fund for Animals and Humane Society Call on Governor Ehrlich to Stop Bear Hunt

[Tracey McIntire]

  For Immediate Release

Fund for Animals and Humane Society Call on Governor Ehrlich to Stop 
Bear Hunt

Groups Reiterate Offer of $75,000 to Compensate Farmers, Solve Conflicts

Annapolis, MD (May 25, 2004)--With Maryland's first bear hunting season 
in half a century just five months away, The Fund for Animals and The 
Humane Society of the United States today appealed to Governor Robert 
Ehrlich to "call off the bear hunt in favor of a less draconian 
alternative, and direct the state to accept private funding that would 
result in every farmer who experiences bear damage in Maryland being 
fully compensated for the first time ever."

In March, the two organizations offered collectively to provide $75,000 
to compensate farmers for bear damage and expand educational programs to 
solve bear conflicts, if the DNR's bear hunting proposal was withdrawn. 
That offer was rejected in April by the DNR's senior staff, who called 
the proposal "blackmail" and "a bribe." The offer was apparently not 
even discussed with the DNR's law enforcement officers in western 
Maryland, who called The Fund for Animals asking for assistance to 
purchase "bear response kits" for their vehicles.

"In a time when all state agencies are strapped for cash, we hope 
Governor Ehrlich will be more open to new funding partnerships and 
constructive solutions, and will choose real relief for farmers and 
citizens over trophy hunting," said Michael Markarian, President of The 
Fund for Animals, based in Silver Spring, Maryland. "Farmers in western 
Maryland deserve money in their pockets more than thirty trophy hunters 
deserve bearskin rugs."

The DNR estimates that the bear population in Maryland is only 266 to 
437 animals. Bear damage to agricultural crops is approximately $10,000 
to $40,000 annually. Had the DNR accepted this offer from the animal 
protection groups, Maryland farmers would be compensated fully for bear 
damage for the first time, and additional funds would be available to 
expand the DNR's existing educational programs and responses to bear 
nuisance complaints. A costumed "black bear" has been seen following 
Governor Ehrlich to events over the past few weeks and passing out 
leaflets around the state asking Maryland citizens to oppose the bear hunt.

"This planned hunt was never about bear problems; rather, it was about 
providing targets to trophy hunters," stated Wayne Pacelle, Chief 
Executive Officer-Designate of The Humane Society of the United States, 
based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "How the cash-strapped DNR can call a 
generous offer of $75,000 for help with bear problems a bribe is 
absolutely astonishing and appalling."

A copy of the letter to Governor Ehrlich from the two groups is 
available at: www.MarylandBears.com/about/ehrlich75k.cfm

More information on the web: www.MarylandBears.com

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