Bear debate draws bucks $270,000 raised over baiting issue

More than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised so far in Maine’s fight over whether bear baiting should be allowed.

Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting, the group proposing a November 2004 referendum to ban bear baiting, trapping and hunting with dogs on ethical grounds, has raised $180,117, according to the latest campaign finance report.

Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, a coalition created to oppose the referendum, reported in its filing that it had raised $88,415.

Though the campaign will not likely challenge the record-setting $10 million casino battle of last year, the bear referendum – with money coming in from national animal welfare and hunting groups – is expected to reach well into the multimillion-dollar range.

After the reports were filed on Jan. 15, Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council sent out press releases drawing the media’s attention to the large donations that Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting had received from national animal advocacy organizations.

The council, which is led by outdoor sports groups, including the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and the Maine Professional Guides Association, has long made the accusation that this referendum is a case of out-of-state interests – namely, the Humane Society of the United States – interfering with Maine policy.

Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting’s report indicates that The Fund for Animals donated just over $125,000, while the U.S Humane Society made a $50,000 contribution.

Though the referendum only impacts bear baiting, trapping and hunting with dogs, opponents accuse animal activists of a long-term goal of banning all hunting.

“[Funding] indicates to us that this is not a Maine-initiated citizens’ referendum. This is being pushed by a national agenda … by animal rights groups trying to get their foot in the door in Maine,” Edith Leary, campaign manager for Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council, said Sunday.

“They’re already playing a leadership role,” Leary said of the national animal groups, citing not only funding, but also the time that HSUS employees have given to Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting. “We’ve had a lot of donations from Maine people giving $10, $20, $30.”

Sixteen individuals also made contributions to Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting, in amounts ranging from $100 to $500, according to the report.

Bob Fisk, spokesman for the group and founder of the local group Maine Friends of Animals, said Friday that his group has not yet done any active fund raising in Maine.

Since beginning its effort this fall, the group has concentrated on collecting 100,000 signatures on a petition to get the referendum on the ballot next November. Next week, Fisk plans to turn over his signatures to the state and announce the beginning of a fund-raising campaign.

“There’s no point in raising the money if you don’t have the signatures,” he said.

However, a lack of local donations does not indicate a lack of support, Fisk said, citing his organization’s surveys that indicate 70 percent of Mainers favor the referendum.

Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council commissioned its own survey, but has declined to release the results.

The council is well into its fund-raising drive, with a great deal of support from Mainers. More than 3,000 individual donations, ranging from $51 to $2,000 were cited in the January report. The group also reported a $40,000 donation from the U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance and an $80,000 contribution from the Maine Professional Guides Association.

Previously, national groups such as the National Rifle Association and Safari Club International had promised their support to the opposition effort, while the Humane Society and the Fund for Animals expect to be joined by other national groups including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Both Smith and Fisk have previously said they expect to spend a great deal of money on television advertising and thus need bank accounts in excess of a million dollars going into next fall’s fight.

“Neither Maine Friends of Animals or the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine could run a referendum campaign without help from national groups,” Fisk said Friday.