Zerba: Oppose Bear Baiting Expansion

By Alexandra Zerba

As a resident of New Hampshire, I would like to ask my fellow citizens to reach out to their state representatives and oppose HB 298: Bear Baiting Expansion. This bill would expand baiting for all game animals in NH, including black bears.

Bear baiting is the practice of setting out piles of junk food, chocolate, rotting meat and garbage in the woods in order to lure the animals to a site to be killed by hunters. This goes against the ethics of “fair chase” hunting and can increase human/bear conflicts by habituating bears to human food.

Supporters of bear baiting will say it is a means to control the bear population when, in fact, it has the opposite effect. Additionally, bear baiting is not good for the environment or for residents, including children, who enjoying walking and hiking through the woods.

“Bear baiting” is a health, environmental and safety risk for all of us who live in NH. It is legal in only 12 states and is considered unsporting, even among many sportsmen, because it is not “fair chase,” the cornerstone of ethical hunting. The animal is lured to an area and shot while eating.

Please contact your local representatives and ask them to oppose this bill: HB 298: Bear Baiting Expansion for the safety of all NH animals and residents.

Alexandra Zerba lives in Bow.