In Maine’s North Woods, a 466-pound black bear named “Scar” was chased for miles by GPS-tracked hounds, cornered repeatedly, and ultimately shot at close range. The dogs bayed loudly every few hundred yards as the bear, already covered in visible scars, ran through dense forest in a desperate attempt to escape. This isn’t an isolated story — it’s a legal and ongoing practice in our state.

Hounding, the use of packs of trained dogs to chase bears for miles, is still permitted in Maine, even though it’s been banned in other states for its cruelty. This method of hunting forces wild animals into extended, high-stress chases that often end in violent confrontations. These bears are not just being hunted — they’re being harassed, exhausted, and outnumbered before they're even shot. It’s a process that causes immense suffering to the animal and puts dogs at risk as well.

No matter where you stand on hunting, this practice crosses a line. Ethical hunters across the country follow principles of fair chase and respect for wildlife — values that hounding completely disregards. There is no dignity in running an animal to the point of collapse before pulling the trigger.

Maine should not be known as one of the last states clinging to a cruel and outdated form of bear hunting. It's time for our wildlife policies to reflect a basic respect for animals and the values of compassion that so many Mainers hold dear.

We urge the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Governor Janet Mills, and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee of the Maine Legislature to take action and ban the use of dogs in bear hunting. Let’s end this unnecessary suffering and move toward humane, ethical wildlife management in our state.

Add your name to demand change.

Photo via Bangor Daily News