Bill Description:
H.B. 177 prevents an individual who kills or wounds a black bear in response to damage to that individual’s beehives from being penalized with fines, jail time, or both.[teaserbreak]
Background:
When conflict with bears arises, the answer is never to take inhumane, ineffective lethal action. Scientific studies increasingly show that lethal action against predators is wholly ineffective at solving wildlife conflict. While the individual animal(s) may be dead, the underlying cause of conflict persists. For example, if a bear is killed, but the beehives remain located in a prime black bear area, other bears will soon move in and develop a taste for honey.
The best way to stop conflict with bears is to prevent it from happening in the first place. There are many effective nonlethal tools to both prevent and mitigate damage from bears. These methods include but are not limited to placing beehives far away from bear habitat/known bear territories, installing and properly maintaining electric fencing, installing elevated platforms with overhangs, and utilizing aversive conditioning or humane hazing techniques.
Currently, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) policy does not penalize a person who kills or wounds black bears in defense of his/her own life, the lives of other individuals, or the lives of animals on the individual’s property. H.B. 177 amends that policy to specifically state bees and bee colonies are included in that exception. Furthermore, the Maryland DNR manages a Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund to reimburse farmers for damage to livestock, as long as that farmer has followed all recommended preventative measures. As there is already a system in place for both protecting property and receiving compensation for damage, H.B. 177 is an unnecessary bill that promotes ineffective, inhumane lethal action.
Take Action:
Maryland residents, contact your state delegate and urge him or her to oppose this bill!
Read the full text and follow its progress here.