Opinion

OUR OPINION

September 21, 2007

Humans bear responsibility in encounters with wildlife

JUST AS BEARS can be dangerous to humans, a misguided human can be dangerous to bears.

Two recent incidents involving bears deserve our attention.

First, we’re saddened that a 500-pound black bear was killed out of season in Carbon County last week. We’re thankful, however, that the animal’s death spurred understanding between two groups that normally disagree.

To hunting proponents and opponents, the sport is black-and-white. You are either passionately in favor of hunting or passionately against it. But the Humane Society of the United States and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are working together to help catch whomever killed the bear, reported Tom Venesky in Wednesday’s edition.

The Game Commission said the bear was shot by someone with a crossbow in a restaurant parking lot along Route 940. Before the animal’s untimely death, tourists had routinely gathered to watch it peacefully feed at the restaurant Dumpster.

The Humane Society is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The Game Commission, meanwhile, is prepared to fine the culprit(s) between $500 and $1,500, plus charge restitution ranging from $800 to $5,000.

Andrew Page of the Humane Society called the poaching “callous and irresponsible” and said that his organization learned about the case from the Game Commission. “We may have some differences regarding wildlife, but one thing we can all agree on is that poaching is a serious offense.”

Separately, a Boy Scout from the Lehigh Valley area suffered three puncture wounds Saturday when a bear entered his tent at Hickory Run State Park. This is the second time this summer that a bear has harassed a human in a White Haven-area campground, according to news reports.

State Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Fred Merluzzi said the bear was attracted by candy bars inside the tent. The 12-year-old Scout, who was treated and released from a hospital, was sleeping with two other campers when he was bitten.

We’re glad that the Scout was not seriously hurt and that the Game Commission is removing bears from the area.

“If any of the tagged bears return and cause a problem at the site again, it will be put down,” said Merluzzi. “We can’t have people getting injured, and I think the public understands that.”

Hickory Run State Park Manager Dave Madl said the bear approached the tent because it smelled Snickers bars. Madl noted that the park has posted warnings throughout the area about how to avoid bear encounters.

Camp rules clearly state that food should not be left out. Madl said that if people can’t learn to live by these sensible rules, Game Commission officials might have to start issuing citations.

Bears and people can and should live peacefully together. But people, not the animals, need to follow the rules for everyone’s safety.

Keeping bears at bay

Here are some bear safety tips from the Pennsylvania Game Commission:

• Only put bird feeders out when bears hibernate – late November through late March.

• Don’t put garbage out until pick-up day.

• Don’t throw table scraps outside for animals to eat.

• Don’t put food waste on your compost pile.

• Clean your barbecue grill regularly.

• If you feed pets outdoors, bring dishes inside at night.

• Halloween decorations such as squash, pumpkins and corn stalks might attract bears.

• Stay calm if you see a bear. From a safe distance, shout at it the same way you would to scare away an unwanted dog. If the bear won’t leave, call the Game Commission or police.

• Ask nearby businesses to keep Dumpsters chained or locked shut.

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