Connecticut’s beloved black bears will not be allowed to be hunted thanks to your activism! And the circumstances under which farmers may be allowed to kill bears for damaging their crops will not be expanded!

June 4 was the last day of session and here is how the day unfolded. SB 1523 got called in the House, and the bill did not move forward a bear trophy hunt. In another twist, the amended bill did not get called again in the Senate for another vote before session ended at midnight.

Once again, the outcome that protects bears shows that public backlash matters. Cheers and thank you!

As we reported on May 23, the CT Senate passed SB 1523 with a sneaky, controversial amendment that paved the way for a black bear trophy hunt even though language to legalize bear hunting had died in the Environment Committee earlier in the session.

We and other advocates sprang into action, pressing state representatives in the House to oppose the new amendment and urging our members to press them as well.

State legislators listened, and the list of “NO’s” grew.

Of course, we are not naïve, hunting apologists will be back again next year gunning for a black bear trophy hunt.

Rest assured we will continue fighting against such an unnecessary, inhumane plan and will continue pressing for statewide legislation that includes a conflict reduction community grant program that provides money to communities for bear resistant trash cans and electric fencing around chickens and beehives. We’re even working with USA Recycling and a town in the northwestern state to begin a bear-resistant pilot program.

We interviewed Rich Beausoleil, bear specialist from the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife who said: If I wanted my agency’s money and attention used in the best possible way to resolve the root cause of conflict over the long term…it would be spending the time/energy/resources in working with city and county officials on removing attractants on the landscape, modifying garbage contracts to mandate bear-resistant containers, implementing ordinances on feeding wildlife, including birds, and partnering on outreach/education programs.”

We couldn’t agree more.