Maryland Rejects $75,000 to Compensate Farmers for Bear Damage

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 26, 2004 (ENS) - Maryland’s first bear hunting season in 50 years is due to start in five months, but The Fund for Animals and The Humane Society of the United States do not want the hunt to start at all. They are offering a program that will compensate farmers for damage done by bears, but it has been turned down by the state.

Monday the two groups appealed to Governor Robert Ehrlich to “call off the bear hunt in favor of a less draconian alternative, and direct the state to accept private funding that would result in every farmer who experiences bear damage in Maryland being fully compensated for the first time ever.”

In March, the two organizations offered collectively to provide $75,000 to compensate farmers for bear damage and expand educational programs to solve bear conflicts, if the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) bear hunting proposal was withdrawn.

That offer was rejected in April by the DNR’s senior staff, who called the proposal “blackmail” and “a bribe.” The offer was apparently not even discussed with the DNR’s law enforcement officers in western Maryland, who called The Fund for Animals asking for assistance to purchase “bear response kits” for their vehicles.

“In a time when all state agencies are strapped for cash, we hope Governor Ehrlich will be more open to new funding partnerships and constructive solutions, and will choose real relief for farmers and citizens over trophy hunting,” said Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals, based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“Farmers in western Maryland deserve money in their pockets more than 30 trophy hunters deserve bearskin rugs," Markarian said.

The DNR estimates that the bear population in Maryland is 266 to 437 animals. Bear damage to agricultural crops is approximately $10,000 to $40,000 annually.

Had the DNR accepted this offer from the animal protection groups, Maryland farmers would be compensated fully for bear damage for the first time, and additional funds would be available to expand the DNR’s existing educational programs and responses to bear nuisance complaints, the two groups said.

A costumed “black bear” has been seen following Governor Ehrlich to events over the past few weeks and passing out leaflets around the state asking Maryland citizens to oppose the bear hunt.

“This planned hunt was never about bear problems; rather, it was about providing targets to trophy hunters,” stated Wayne Pacelle, Chief Executive Officer-Designate of The Humane Society of the United States, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. “How the cash-strapped DNR can call a generous offer of $75,000 for help with bear problems a bribe is absolutely astonishing and appalling.”