Black Bear Task Force - Decision-Making Process

Black Bear Task Force Report and Recommendations
To The Maryland Department of Natural Resources 
March 28, 2003

Decision - Making Process 

This report and the recommendations contained herein represent the product of many hours of work to collect, discuss and interpret information concerning black bears in Maryland. The Black Bear Task Force (BBTF) has undertaken this effort in a professional and responsible manner, given the diverse opinions that exist concerning the subject of black bears. 

For many recommendations the task force vote was unanimous, while for others there were significant differences of opinion. The task force decided that a 60-percent majority would be necessary for a recommendation to be included in this report. The task force also felt that it was important that significant values and opinions of individual task force members be communicated to the Maryland public. Each task force member had the opportunity to provide commentary as part of this report. (See Appendices G to N) 

The mission of the task force included a requirement to "identify important values to consider for bear management, and to consider input from individuals and groups that may have disparate opinions on bear management." The BBTF thanks the more than 500 individuals who commented on the BBTF draft recommendations that were published on November 6, 2002. The overwhelming issue that persons provided comment on was the appropriateness of black bear hunting in Maryland. Approximately 4.5 to 1, of those persons who provided comment on the issue of bear hunting, voiced opposition to bear hunting. The BBTF reviewed and considered all public comment before finalizing its recommendations to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in this document. 

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