Question 2 will eliminate the primary tools used by bear biologists and game wardens to control Maine’s population at 23,000 bears, one of the largest bear populations in the United States. Maine’s bear biologists have taken a stand against Question 2 because they cannot control the bear population without the hunting methods this referendum would ban.

Question 2 will criminalize 95 percent of the methods used to control our bear population. Of the 3,900 bears killed last year, 3,128 were over bait, 450 with dogs, 130 by trapping and only 192 bears were killed still hunting. How do we get from 192 back up to the harvest goal of 3,900 without the currently legal bear hunting methods? We can’t.

Voters in western states approved similar ballot initiatives pushed by national animal rights groups despite opposition from their bear biologists (who were not allowed to inform the public of their position). In order to compensate for the loss of vital game management tools, wildlife managers in those states had to increase the number of bears each hunter can kill, lengthen bear hunting seasons, reduce license fees and allow for more liberal incidental hunting. Such changes in the bear hunt are not options for Maine:

? Extending the season would have little effect in Maine where most bears are hibernating by the end of hunting season.

? Hunting during summer would create conflicts with other recreational forest users.

? Spring hunts increase the potential for orphaning dependent cubs.

? Maine already allows deer hunters to hunt bears incidentally (although Question 2 would add a $28 fee for this privilege).

Even when instituting all of the measures outlined above, success rates for bear hunting plummeted to single digits when limited to still hunting and stalking. With the current hunting methods in Maine, the success rate for bear hunters is only 25 percent. Based on the experiences of the western states, Maine would need to increase the number of bear hunters from 13,000 to more than 100,000 in order to harvest enough bears to control the population. Every one of the states that have passed similar hunting bans by referendum have experienced increased bear populations and increased bear nuisance problems.

A more accurate barometer for this referendum would be how bear problems have increased in northeastern states:

? Between 1995 and 2000, bear nuisance complaints in New Jersey rose from 285 to 1,375. The New Jersey DEP publishes a children’s coloring book about living with bears with one panel instructing children, “Do not put your lunch in your backpack, carry it in your hand. If you see a bear, drop your lunch and walk to safety.” Last year, there were 57 recorded incidents of bears invading people’s homes. New Jersey was forced to reinstate the bear hunt last year for the first time in more than 30 years to attempt to control their bear population.

? Black bears are expanding their range in New York and interactions between people and black bears are increasing. In August 2002, a bear attacked a 5-month-old baby girl in her stroller at a Catskills vacation spot and mauled her to death – just 70 miles northwest of New York City.

? In Maryland, the increase in the bear population and residential expansion has created an ever- increasing number of bear-human conflicts. Last year alone more than 38 bears were struck by vehicles. Maryland was forced to reinstate their bear hunt this year in order to curtail their problems with bears.

? The bear population in Massachusetts has doubled in the past 10 years and is growing at a rate of nearly 10 percent per year.

Maryland has experienced all of these problems with a population of only 450 bears. New Jersey only has approximately 3,200 black bears. New York only has 7,000 black bears. Massachusetts has only 2,000 bears. There are more than 23,000 black bears in Maine.

In addition, a statewide economic impact study by Dr. Charles Colgan from the University of Southern Maine has concluded that if Question 2 passes, the state would lose up to 770 jobs and up to $62.4 million in annual economic activity. The economic loss would hit hardest in rural communities in northern Maine where we can least afford further economic hardship. This real threat of economic loss is illustrated in a letter to Gov. Baldacci by the county commissioners of Washington County in which they wrote the following:

“If this referendum were to pass, it would have a devastating effect on Washington County. Our economy here is already in dire straits. The loss of revenue would only serve to deepen the problem. Local businesses, as well as those throughout the state, such as restaurants, motels and the like, would certainly suffer.”

Maine voters need to trust our bear biologists to keep doing their great work and leave bear management in the hands of the professionals. Vote no on 2.

Edie Leary is the campaign manager for Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council (the campaign organized to oppose Question 2).