Legislative Alert #2

SB044

(Entz, Snook)

Status: Senate Floor

Audubon Position: OPPOSE!

BACKGROUND:

As most of you know, this past fall brought an exceptionally large number

of bears out of the hills and down into populated areas. This resulted in

the Colorado Division of Wildlife either anesthetizing and relocating

bears, or killing them (a total of 16 bears in 2001.) Climatic conditions

had drastically reduced the amount of natural foods that the bears would

normally feed on prior to entering hibernation.

In 1992 the final vote on Amendment 10, the citizen initiative that banned

spring and summer bear hunting, bear baiting, and hunting bears with dogs,

was 70% in favor of the Amendment and 30% against. Amendment 10 eliminated

bear hunting between March 1 and September 1, the time of year when many

females are accompanied by dependent young. This bill disregards the

overwhelming public will and intent expressed in 1992.

Currently bear hunting is allowed from Sept. 1 to march 1 of each year.

SB044 would allow the season to open 1-1/2 months earlier, on July 15.

There are three major things wrong with SB044. They are:

1) It would permit bear hunting during the period when females may have

dependent young accompanying them. In Colorado, most bear cubs are not

weaned until approximately August 15th. Cubs orphaned before they are

weaned almost always die of dehydration, starvation, accidents, or are

eventually killed by another predator. The season change would once

more make it possible for hunters to wipe out entire family groups of

bears. This is bad wildlife management and could become a public

relations disaster for responsible sport hunting.

2) The opening of the bear hunting season before September 1 would put

Colorado bear hunters in the field at the same time when campers and

hikers are enjoying prime hiking and backpacking seasons.

3) SB044 would remove wildlife management from the agency that has the

management expertise and make it subject to just the calendar. As the

laws are now there is nothing to keep either the Division of Wildlife

or the USDA's Wildlife Services from "removing" problem bears. The idea

that this bill will protect public health and safety is simply a farce.

To find out who your Colorado State Senator is go to:

and enter your zip code + 4 in the spaces provided on the left side of the

page. The site will return information on who ALL of your elected

representatives are. By clicking on any of the names returned you will

receive information on how to reach them by phone, mail or email.