We, the undersigned, strongly oppose Senate Bill 86 (SB 86), which would establish a bear hunting season in Louisiana beginning in 2023.

Senator Stewart Cathey is the bill's sponsor, and it is supported by Senator Jay Luneau, who co-authored the bill, and Representative Neil Riser, a known trophy hunter who once killed a polar bear. The bill is currently pending approval by the Senate Natural Resources Committee. This is an industry-driven bill that puts politics and profits before all else. It benefits wealthy landowners, foresters, farmers, and other resource-based industries who, instead of using non-lethal methods that promote coexistence with bears, would rather charge bear/trophy hunters a fee to kill bears on their private property. 

Senator Cathey said, "It's clear to me the population can support a hunting season with responsible management." Yet, he is not a biologist and there is no scientific data to support his claim. 

Around 80,000 black bears once roamed more than 24 million acres of Louisiana and parts of Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi until bear hunting and rapid deforestation pushed the bears to the brink of extinction. By the 1950s, there were only an estimated 80-120 bears and only 4 million acres of bear habitat left. In 1992 Louisiana black bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In 2016 Louisiana's bears were removed from the endangered species list. Soon after, local conservation organizations Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, the environmental legal group PEER, and others filed a lawsuit to relist the bears under the ESA. They said that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) fell short of adhering to the recovery guidelines they established in the 1990s by failing to protect critical corridors needed to connect three isolated subpopulations of bears. These critical wildlife corridors are required to create genetic diversity. The loss of genetic diversity and the likelihood of inbreeding can result in reduced survival, longevity, and productivity of the species. 

Those in favor of opening up a bear hunting season are pushing a false narrative that bears are overpopulating and threaten human safety. The truth is black bears are predominantly vegetarian and prefer plant-based foods over meat. They are generally a shy, elusive species. It is also important to note that science and data have proven that hunting does not reduce bear-human conflicts, and bears regulate their own populations through a biological process known as delayed implantation. Delayed implantation is nature's way of keeping bear populations in check. When bears have an abundant food supply, more bears will be born. When food is scarce, female bears will not reproduce every two years but every 3 to 4 years.

An increase in the number of bears sightings in residential areas is likely due to bear attractants such as unsecured trash, bird feeders, and bait stations used to attract deer, but this does not indicate a population increase. We as humans need to address and acknowledge that our actions impact bear behavior and, more often than not, we are the cause of conflicts/encounters. Managing our habits, understanding how they influence bears, and adjusting our activities will solve bear-human conflicts, not hunting.

Learn how to make your own bear-resistant trashcan.

Learn to coexist with bears.

Calls to action!
Contact Louisiana Lawmakers and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) and tell them you oppose SB 86 and the hunting of bears in Louisiana. We understand there are many people to email, and we want to make it as easy as possible. Scroll down to the bottom of this petition to copy all of the email addresses for quick emailing. Please be respectful in your messaging.

Contact Louisiana Senators
Stewart Cathey Jr.
Phone: (318)582-5524
Email: sen33@legis.la.gov

Jay W. Luneau
Phone: (318)484-2288
Email: luneauj@legis.la.gov

Mark Abraham
Phone: (337)475-3016
Email: abrahamm@legis.la.gov

Bret R.L. Allain
Phone: (337)828-9107
Email: allainb@legis.la.gov

Regina Barrow
Phone: (225)359-9400
Email: barrowr@legis.la.gov

Louie Bernard
Phone: (318)357-3116
Email: sen31@legis.la.gov

Gerald Boudreaux
Phone: (337)267-7520
Email: boudreauxg@legis.la.gov

Joseph Bouie
Phone: (504)286-1033
Email: bouiej@legis.la.gov

Gary Carter
Phone: (504) 361-6600
Email: carterg@legis.la.gov

Heather Cloud
Phone: (337)461-2595
Email: sen28@legis.la.gov

Patrick Connick
Phone: (504)371-0240
Email: connickp@legis.la.gov

Page Patrick Cortez
Phone: (337)993-7430
Email: cortezp@legis.la.gov

Michael Fesi "Big Mike"
Phone: (985)858-2979
Email: sen20@legis.la.gov

Cleo Fields
Phone: (225)342-9514
Email: cfields@legis.la.gov

Franklin J. Foil
Phone: (225)342-6777
Email: foilf@legis.la.gov

Jimmy Harris
Phone: (504)286-1960
Email: harrisj@legis.la.gov

Henry Cameron
Phone: (504)838-5433
Email: henryc@legis.la.gov

Bob Hensgens
Phone: (337)740-6425
Email: sen26@legis.la.gov

Sharon Hewitt
Phone: (985)646-6490 Slidell
Email: hewitts@legis.la.gov

Katrina R. Jackson
Phone: (318)343-2877
Email: jacksonk@legis.la.gov

Eddie J. Lambert
Phone: (225)673-5048
Email: lamberte@legis.la.gov

Patrick McMath
Phone: (985)900-6278
Email: sen11@legis.la.gov

Barry Milligan
Phone: (318)862-3100
Email: sen38@legis.la.gov

Fred H. Mills Jr.
Phone: (337)845-4240 Parks
Email: millsf@legis.la.gov

Robert Mills
Phone: (318)371-5200
Email: sen36@legis.la.gov

Beth Mizell
Phone: (985)839-3936
Email: mizellb@legis.la.gov

Jay C. Morris "Jay"
Phone: (318)362-4270
Email: morrisjc@legis.la.gov

Barrow Peacock
Phone: (318)741-7180
Email: peacockb@legis.la.gov

Karen Carter Peterson
Phone: (504)568-8346
Email: petersonk@legis.la.gov

Rogers J. Pope
Phone: (225)667-3588
Email: poper@legis.la.gov

Edward Price Jr.
Phone: (225)644-6738
Email: pricee@legis.la.gov

Mike Reese
Phone: (337)238-6435
Email: sen30@legis.la.gov

Gary L. Smith Jr.
Phone: (985)764-9122
Email: smithgl@legis.la.gov

Jeremy Stine
Phone: (337)491-2016
Email: sen27@legis.la.gov

Kirk Talbot
Phone: (504)736-7299
Email: talbotk@legis.la.gov

Gregory Tarver
Phone: (318)227-1499
Email: tarverg@legis.la.gov

Rick Ward
Phone: (225)246-8838
Email: wardr@legis.la.gov

Mack White "Bodi"
Phone: (225)272-1324
Email: whitem@legis.la.gov

Glen Womack
Phone: (318)744-0005
Email: sen32@legis.la.gov

Contact the Louisiana House of Representatives (House Natural Resources And Environment).
Chairman, Jean-Paul Coussan
Phone: (337) 262-2400
Email: coussanjp@legis.la.gov

Vice-Chair, Ryan Bourriaque
Phone: (337) 893-5035
Email: hse047@legis.la.gov

Rhonda Gaye Butler
Phone: (337) 363-3900
Email: hse038@legis.la.gov

Dewith R. Carrier
Phone: (318) 335-0206
Email: hse032@legis.la.gov

Mack Cormier
Phone: (504) 356-3013
Email: hse105@legis.la.gov

Adrian Fisher
Phone: (318) 556-7001
Email: hse016@legis.la.gov

Brett F. Geymann
Phone: (337)855-8133
Email: hse035@legis.la.gov

Timothy P. Kerner
Phone: (504) 689-7725
Email: hse084@legis.la.gov

Mandie Landry
Phone: (504) 895-2526
Email: hse091@legis.la.gov

Buddy Mincey Jr.
Phone: (225) 667-6088
Email: hse071@legis.la.gov

Joseph A. Orgeron
Phone: (985) 693-9000
Email: hse054@legis.la.gov

Neil Riser
Phone: (318) 649-0977
Email: risern@legis.la.gov

Troy D. Romero
Phone: (337) 824-0376
Email: hse037@legis.la.gov

Rodney Schamerhorn
Phone: (318) 565-4959
Email: hse024@legis.la.gov

William "Bill" Wheat Jr.
Phone: (985) 386-7844
Email: hse073@legis.la.gov

Tanner Magee
Phone: (985) 858-2970
Email: mageet@legis.la.gov

Clay Schexnayder
Phone: (225) 473-6016
Email: schexnayderc@legis.la.gov

Contact the LDWF Commissioners
Chair: Mr. William J. “Joe” McPherson
Phone: 318.445.0350
Email: jmcpherson@maisondelafayette.com

Vice-Chair: Mr. Alfred R. "Al" Sunseri
Phone: 504.523.2651
Email: asunseri@cox.net

Mr. Andrew Blanchard
Phone: 985.594.5869
Email: andrew@pearlbrandseafood.com

Mr. William D. “Bill’’ Hogan
Phone: 318.255.3733
Email: bill@bankruston.com

Mr. Kevin Sagrera
Phone: 337.303.4585
Email: kevinsag1@bellsouth.net

Mr. Brandon DeCuir
Phone: 225.346.8716
Email: decuirbj@gmail.com

Mr. Harlie E. “Gene” Reynolds
Phone: 318.422.3097
Email: hegenereynolds@gmail.com

Contact Louisiana Senators
sen33@legis.la.gov, luneauj@legis.la.gov, abrahamm@legis.la.gov, allainb@legis.la.gov, barrowr@legis.la.gov, sen31@legis.la.gov, boudreauxg@legis.la.gov, bouiej@legis.la.gov, carterg@legis.la.gov, sen28@legis.la.gov, connickp@legis.la.gov, cortezp@legis.la.gov, sen20@legis.la.gov, cfields@legis.la.gov, foilf@legis.la.gov, harrisj@legis.la.gov, henryc@legis.la.gov, sen26@legis.la.gov, hewitts@legis.la.gov, jacksonk@legis.la.gov, lamberte@legis.la.gov, sen11@legis.la.gov, sen38@legis.la.gov, millsf@legis.la.gov, sen36@legis.la.gov, mizellb@legis.la.gov, morrisjc@legis.la.gov, peacockb@legis.la.gov, petersonk@legis.la.gov, poper@legis.la.gov, pricee@legis.la.gov, sen30@legis.la.gov, smithgl@legis.la.gov, sen27@legis.la.gov, talbotk@legis.la.gov, tarverg@legis.la.gov, wardr@legis.la.gov, whitem@legis.la.gov, sen32@legis.la.gov

Contact Louisiana Representatives
coussanjp@legis.la.gov, hse047@legis.la.gov, hse038@legis.la.gov, hse032@legis.la.gov, hse105@legis.la.gov, hse016@legis.la.gov, hse035@legis.la.gov, hse084@legis.la.gov, hse091@legis.la.gov, hse071@legis.la.gov, hse054@legis.la.gov, risern@legis.la.gov, hse037@legis.la.gov, hse024@legis.la.gov, hse073@legis.la.gov, mageet@legis.la.gov, schexnayderc@legis.la.gov

Contact the LDWF Commissioners
jmcpherson@maisondelafayette.com, asunseri@cox.net, andrew@pearlbrandseafood.com, bill@bankruston.com, kevinsag1@bellsouth.net, decuirbj@gmail.com, hegenereynolds@gmail.com

 

https://www.oneprotest.org/