For the second time in a decade, animal rights groups are seeking a public vote to ban three bear hunting practices. The groups have also asked providers of food products used as bear bait to stop supplying leftover food waste to bear hunters. The Coastal Humane Society, Animal Refuge League and Animal Wildlife Society have joined forces with the Wildlife Alliance of Maine and the Humane Society of the United States in the effort, which aims to place the issue before Maine voters in 2014, according to a Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting press release.
At issue are the three major methods of hunting bears used in Maine. The referendum question would outlaw hunting bears with traps, hounds or over bait.
Mainers voted on a similar ballot measure in 2004, rejecting it 53 percent to 47 percent.
The Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting press release calls the methods used in Maine “cruel and unsportsmanlike,” and claims hunters need not resort to those methods in order to control the state’s bear population. On Tuesday, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist Randy Cross said that since 2005, Maine’s bear population has risen from an estimated 23,000 to about 31,000.
According to Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, the threshold of signatures required to put a referendum on the 2014 ballot is 57,277.
Back in 2003, supporters of the referendum were required to gather 50,519 signatures in order to get the referendum question on the 2004 ballot. That proved to be a manageable task: In March 2004, 97,622 signatures were certified by the secretary of state.
On Tuesday Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting also launched “End Bear Baiting Month,” asking 130 food suppliers, including bakeries and restaurants, to stop providing leftover food waste to bear baiters.
Katie Hansberry, the campaign director for Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting and the state director of the Humane Society of the United States, said organizers are working with the Secretary of State’s office to establish the language that will be included on the ballot measure. After that language is reviewed, the signature drive will begin. Hansberry said she expects that signature drives will begin in early to mid-September.
Hansberry is also author of the blog, “Mainely Animals,” which is hosted by the Bangor Daily News.
Hansberry did not take part in the 2003-04 bear referendum. She said she and other organizers think Mainers have changed their attitude since then, and are eager to bring the bear-hunting issue forward again.
“I think we see through legislation or any time positive changes are being made, sometimes you have to make several attempts before the status quo is actually changed,” Hansberry said. “It has been 10 years [since the last referendum] and the demographics in Maine have changed. People have been moving into Maine, and I think that would make a difference.”
In addition, Hansberry said organizers would work harder on educating the public this time around.
“We also think that in 2004, there was some misinformation that was put out,” she said. “As a result, people ended up voting ‘No’ on the issue because of some fear and misinformation and scare tactics.” Continue reading….