Help Stop Expansion of Bear Hunting Across California

Every year, more than 2,000 bears are legally killed by hunters across California, with the most bears killed in Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt, Shasta, and Tulare counties. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 black bears are legally hunted each year in the US and Canada, while an unknown number are also illegally poached. Shockingly, it is even legal for trophy hunters in California to chase bears with packs of hounds.

Click here to take action now!

To make matters worse, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has proposed dramatically expanding bear hunting across the state. Earlier this month, the CDFG unveiled its plans to: increase the hunt quota from 1,700 to 2,500 bears or eliminate a cap altogether and expand hunting into other areas of the state. The agency also plans to allow the use of global positioning system (GPS) collars and treeing switches on dogs while bear hunting. (A treeing switch alerts hunters when hounds have chased a bear up a tree.)  Click here to read the CDFG proposals.

If these proposals are adopted, bears will have virtually have no escape.

The California Fish and Game Commission will ultimately decide to accept or reject the CDFG's proposals. In our comments to the Commission, Big Wildlife has urged the Commission to reject the CDFG plans and to ban bear hunting across California. We urge you to help stop the CDFG's misguided bear hunting proposals.
 
Click this link to watch video of bear hunt with hounds. Warning: video is graphic and disturbing.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
*Urge the California Fish and Game Commission to reject the CDFG proposals and to ban bear hunting across California. Click here to send a letter now.