Bear awakens from hibernation, scares residents in downtown

‘Bear awakens from hibernation,
scares residents
in downtown’
To the Editor;
    “An early morning bear sighting on a downtown residential street had nervous residents looking to authorities for help on Monday.”

    Now that I have your attention, the above did not happen this year, Yet, it happened last year in Ellsworth. “In 2012, when the state saw an early spring, the Maine Warden Service received 870 bear-related complaints — up from 436 complaints in 2011 and just 395 in 2010.”
    Rest assured Maine residents will see more and more headlines like this if the Humane Society of the United States(HSUS) has anything to say about it. If you live in Maine it is your duty to make yourself aware of what is going to happen this November. The HSUS has once again gathered signatures to get a ballot question in the November 2014 elections.
    It is HSUS’s intent to end bear hunting with the use of bait, hounds and foot snares. If you aren’t familiar with bear hunting, these three methods are the best scientific methods used by biologists to control the bear population. Bear biologists at Maine’s Inland Fisheries & Wildlife are the top bear biologists in the North America. Bear hunting is not like deer hunting, without the use of bait, bear would seldom be seen by hunters. The use of bait enables the hunter to identify sows with cubs from other more preferred bears for harvesting. Bait also allows hunters to make a quick, humane and ethical kill.
    Black bear hunting in Maine brings $60 million to the economy of the state each year. More than 700 jobs depend on the bear hunt. The northern part of the state would be devastated if the bear hunt were to end. The hunter license fees pay for biologists and habitat management for a healthy bear population. These are just a few of the facts. HSUS would prefer to tell you lies to get your vote.
    This is where you come in. It is your job as a Maine resident to educate yourself with the truth about black bear management.
    Please join local concerned residents and sportsmen for a Wednesday, Feb. 26 meeting on the upcoming bear referendum with James Cote, campaign manager, Wildlife Conservation Council. James will discuss the proposed initiative, Maine’s bear management programs, and why it is so important for Maine to protect these hunting methods for hunters and non-hunters alike.
    The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Dexter Regional High School cafeteria.
Deanna Page
Dexter