Bear baiting on the rise

As the 2014 bear season came to a close, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department announced that hunters had accounted for a total of 784 animals this year, a 20% rise over the average for the past five years.

The take was in line with Fish and Game's population management goals, and had an appropriate ratio of males to females: 428 to 356.  Fish and Game Bear Biologist Andrew Timmins said the numbers were a result of a strong bear population, abundant acorn crop, and an extended season in some regions.

The department also reported an increase in the use of bear baiting, which accounted for 50-60% of the harvest. Supporters of this technique, which has been banned in some states, argue that it is a highly successful method of controlling growing bear populations.

Opponents, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), argue that bear baiting is inhumane and makes it more likely that bears will approach human population centers in search of food.