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Black bear hunt gets the green light in Maryland (10/17/2003)

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved recommendations from the Black Bear Task Force that will allow for the state's first bear hunt in 50 years. The task force is a governor-appointed, citizen task force that was established to provide suggestions for managing Maryland's black bear population.

The hunt is tentatively scheduled for late September and early October of 2004. The goal is to reduce the estimated 300 bears west of Cumberland by ten percent.

Hunting permits will be distributed by lottery. Sportsmen will be encouraged to take nuisance bears identified by cooperating landowners and the DNR.

Paul Peditto, director of the DNR's Wildlife Heritage Service, said the administration will likely ask the legislature to terminate the Black Bear Conservation Stamp Program. It was implemented in 1996 to compensate farmers and livestock owners for damages caused by bears, but failed to raise sufficient funds to fulfill its purpose.

Between 1996 and 2001, farmers filed an average $22,880 in annual bear damage claims with the DNR, but the agency only paid an average of $11,734 during those years. During some years, the program paid out only 40 percent of approved compensation.

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