We are very close to accomplishing 10,000 signatures of support for Bear Smart Legislation. Please continue to pass along our petition to all available resources. It is vital that we get bill (S-687) passed into New Jersey Law. This law requires the use and enforcement of Bear-Resistant Containers in bear habitat. This law would also prohibit the baiting of Bear and deer with food in Bear habitat. Here are some quick facts about baiting, that you may not have known; Baiting is "strategically placing a pile of food (donuts) near hunting blinds or clearings in hopes of luring bears (or deer) into close range. Like all unnatural feeding, baiting negatively impacts the natural behavior of wildlife, increases fertility (which can increase the bear population), can cause disease and can be severely destructive to the forests. Baiting for deer or bear changes the behavior of bears and leads to food conditioning and habituation to humans. Artificial feeding contributes to potential conflicts and property damage, alterations in bear behavior and foraging habits, increased or sustained reproductive rate, physical size, distribution, and numbers. Baiting has significant negative impacts on a wide range of non-target species, and contributes to forest degeneration, predation on ground-nesting birds, the spread of disease and invasive plants, increased illegal activity, and increased automobile-deer collisions. The deliberate, collateral or unintentional feeding of bears is significantly altering bear ecology throughout North America. Baiting conditions the black bear to associate food with humans. The majority of wildlife professionals agree that anthropogenic food conditions bears. Conditioning leads to an increase in nuisance situations and creates potentially more serious/ dangerous bear-human encounters. Baiting can mask the long-term population effects of hunting programs. We need to get this banned! If you ever have any questions about Black Bears, then please visit our websites for valuable resources of information. It may encourage you to form a bear protection group in your local area and it’s a great source for a children’s book report. http://www.bearsmartnj.org/ http://www.savenjbears.com/ In closing, the holidays are coming and please consider making a donation this year to The Bear Education and Resource Program, a program of The Animal Protection League of NJ. It is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a New Jersey registered charity. We have a dedicated group of volunteers who work endlessly for Black Bear Protection. All donations go towards black bear education and protection. We also have a book called “The Adventures of Two Black Bear Cubs” written and photographed by a member named Susan Kehoe available for sale. It makes a wonderful addition to any library and a great holiday gift. Thank you for your kind heart towards black bears. Together we can reach 10,000 signatures! Let's Go! Kimberly NJ Bear Program Volunteer