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yolorelli t1_ixni0u0 wrote

Well now there are 2,400 fewer — so far

15

AbsentEmpire t1_ixnkzkh wrote

Replying to 25Bam_vixx (#654,902)

It just is, it's a necessary part of PA forest management.

The PA Game Commission has strict rules on hunting. They tightly regulate how many animals of what types and when, that can be harvest by hunters. They also require reporting by hunters of what they took and where.

They won't allow the animal populations to fall into endangered status, and use hunters for effective animal population control.

If anything this is a good thing because it indicates the PA black bear population is healthy.

118

ktp806 t1_ixobmcy wrote

Bears are a nuisance in my little town of Dunmore NEPA. They are abundant. As much as they say the hunting is regulated I know for a fact that they are baited with day-old bread and donuts for most of the year and they end up being enormous. So most of the record-setting bears in my neck of the woods I have been feasting on Stale donuts for 11 months

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wagsman t1_ixofk2b wrote

My old neighbors son bagged an absolute unit this year, and he did it with a traditional wood bow. Thing was over 650lbs.

14

kazoodac t1_ixoftaa wrote

This title reads like a couple of hunters stumbled upon a National bear convention!

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Thoraxe474 t1_ixoojki wrote

But how many mountain lions

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Remarkable-Design-96 t1_ixoqwki wrote

Yeah like the one hero that murdered a young mom and her less than 50 pound cubs. POS

7

NotNowDamo t1_ixot8mg wrote

Replying to 25Bam_vixx (#654,902)

In the last 20 or so years, bear populations have risen despite record bear harvests.

I don't know if taking more bears has caused the population to rise or not, but I can't imagine the bear problem PA would have if we weren't culling them.

9

illbeinthewoods t1_ixpqk48 wrote

Replying to NotNowDamo (#660,528)

I think it's because our forests are healthier. About 20 years ago the PA Game Commission implemented "herd reduction" for deer and increased the number of doe tags to allow for more deer to be killed per season. This reduction allowed for more understory in the forest which increased available food for other species. I believe the reductions also happened in the fringes of where the bears lived, allowing their populations to increase and in turn spread.

We have also seen an increase in bears populations along our border with NJ. NJ has had a few canceled bears hunts which have allowed their bear population to climb. Bears swim across the Delaware river and find a nice home here.

13

GhostyLasers t1_ixpyype wrote

Replying to ktp806 (#658,213)

Not sure if it is the dump that attracts them, or if Moosic Mountain is just a haven of bears. I drive the Casey everyday and I have seen more dead bears laying on the side of the road than normal recently. I guess they are getting hit by vehicles throughout the night, trying to cross the highway so they can get into the towns and each garbage. I have had to call the Game Commission at least twice to report dead bears on my way to work so they could come and pick them up.

3

VaggPounder t1_ixqpdnm wrote

Replying to GhostyLasers (#665,081)

Now I see why dudes spend $1500 on those super heavy-duty brush guards on the front of their pickup -- some cheapo Walmart guard is not going to withstand the impact at 60 MPH with a 400-lb. blackie

1

Brilliant-Jacket-550 t1_ixr47w6 wrote

Replying to ktp806 (#658,213)

So you’re saying that people bait them all year to get them fat and trusting? So every day, the bear comes up, gets its treats and goes on its way; then one day, it comes up, gets its treats (or not) and gets shot by the person who has been feeding it? What kind of person can basically bond with an animal like that and then kill it?

1

hedgerow_hank t1_ixr8aow wrote

Not to sound naive, but are bears that big a problem?

1