PETITIONS
Start A Petitionbrowse
MENU
Maryland

URGENT: STOP THE MARYLAND BLACK BEAR HUNT THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 24

  • by: Sally Oesterling
  • recipient: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan; Phone: 1-800-811-8336; governor.mail@maryland.gov, Maryland

A "trophy" black bear hunt is scheduled to begin October 24, 2016 in Garrett, Frederick, Washington and Allegany counties.
After 12 years of hunts, 758 bears (82 were cubs) have been killed. There is no justification for this hunt - it is to give "sportsmen" a chance to hunt and kill a bear and bring home a trophy. 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources' website stated last year: "For a hunter to take a wild black bear is a true achievement." This is not an achievement - it is the slaying of a majestic, defenseless animal whose size renders it especially vulnerable.

This bear hunt is a horror at any time, but it is biologically reckless now, when extinction is the gravest conservation problem of our era. Climate change is altering natural ecosystems, changing the way animals live, migrate, eat, and grow. Animals are challenged just as we are by the warming climate.

A trophy hunt is utterly out of place and time, and it reflects very badly on the DNR and on the State of Maryland. Bears are a welcome natural resource to be protected. They should be allowed to live out their natural lives as best they can. They ask nothing of us in return

PLEASE SPEAK UP AND SIGN THE PETITION- SAY "NO" TO THE MARYLAND BLACK BEAR HUNT.

read petition letter ▾

Please cancel this year's black bear trophy hunt. There is no need to decrease the bear population, and the bears are neither overly destructive nor dangerous.

From 2004 through 2015, 758 bears (82 were cubs) have been killed. This bear hunt is an atrocity at any time, but it is biologically reckless at a time when at least one fourth of the world's mammals face extinction. 

In the words of Pope Francis in his encyclical letter, "If we approach nature and the environment without openness to awe and wonder, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, and ruthless exploiters." 

Please take action immediately to cancel the hunt.

Update #28 years ago
The hunt is now over and sadly, 167 bears have been killed. Please share the petition on Facebook to build a louder voice against the hunt! We will present the petition to the governor in the near future and fight for our goal of bringing an end to the Maryland black bear hunt once and for all. We owe this to these majestic, intelligent, fellow
beings whose presence is welcome and awesome.
Update #18 years ago
Unfortunately, the hunt is underway. Please share the petition on Facebook to build a louder, unified voice for these bears!. On twitter? Tweet @LarryHogan too! If enough of us take action, we'll get Governor Hogan's attention! Thanks for caring!
Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.