Tell Alaska Not to Legalize Cruel Bear Traps

[Liddy]

Alaska is poised to become only the second state in the United States to allow trapping as part of black bear hunting. This follows the recent classification of black bears as furbearers (in addition to the
status they already have as a game animal).

Arguments that black bear are responsible for decimating the moose and caribou herds by preying on calves led to this decision. Without enough moose and caribou to go around for human hunting, the black bear
population is targeted.

The new regulations for bear trapping call for the use of elevated bucket traps, which catch a bear by the foot as they reach inside the bucket for the bait. Once trapped, the bear will frantically try to get
free. Even to the point of chewing off the trapped foot. Since the
proposed regulations call for the trap to be checked only every couple
of days, the bear has plenty of time to suffer.

Reports indicate that the bar has been set low for black bear trapping rules. This includes no bag limits, no snare limits, a year-round season and no age limit on bears. Any bears staying with a
trapped bear to protect it (such as a mother bear staying with her
trapped cub) can be killed too.

While it is highly unlikely that Alaska's Board of Game and Department of Fish and Game will call off black bear trapping, we can urge them to reconsider the methods they use to treat the bear more
humanely.

TAKE ACTION:  http://animals.change.org/petitions/view/tell_alaska_not_to_legaliz...