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The Task Force feels that black bears are a valued and valuable natural resource in Maryland, and that efforts should be made to conserve both the species and the habitats that sustain it. Conflicts between bears and humans will occur, and when they do, they must be addressed by practical and effective means.
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The Task Force recommends that Maryland's black bear population be evaluated as being part of the larger Appalachian Highland Regional black bear population.
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The most controversial issue addressed by the Task Force was whether to allow black bear populations to reach biological carrying capacity, or to achieve a specific population objective through appropriate management strategies. "Population management in a given area will impact the occurrence of human-bear problems. Generally as black bear populations increase, human-bear problems increase as bears encounter humans more frequently. Conversely as black bear populations decrease, human-bear problems generally decrease." (Bear Plan, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, 1991). Ultimately the task force voted 8 to 4 to include "Bear hunting" in an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management approach to achieve a targeted population objective. This would include a systematic and comprehensive approach to identify and determine the nature and severity of damage and prioritize solutions on a scale of least to most invasive or injurious to the animal causing damage.
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"Regulated hunting of black bear populations has become a controversial social issue. Perhaps the most contentious issues involve fair chase and the ethics of certain methods of harvest." (Bear Plan, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, 1991). The Task Force has recommended that black bear hunting methods in Maryland be fair and sportsmanlike and conform to the ethics of "fairchase". The following bear hunting techniques should not be permitted: baiting, use of dogs, and spring hunting.
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The Task Force wants to ensure that bear hunting activities are consistent with and respect the rights of private property owners and other Maryland citizens.
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The Task Force encourages DNR to provide opportunities for non-hunting recreation associated with bears in Maryland with a focus on information and education designed to minimize negative human-bear interactions.
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Maryland's bear management program should promote human safety; protect agricultural income and personal property, and address conflicts between humans and bears while attaining black bear population objectives. The Task Force encourages DNR to prioritize black bear education and information programs and to increase its aggressive public education campaign to teach residents and tourists what they can do to minimize conflicts with bears.
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The Task Force recommends that DNR establish procedures under which individual problem bears are handled. These procedures should categorize bear behavior into that which requires no action to that warranting destruction of an individual bear. These procedures may include non-transferable permits to individuals experiencing ongoing and intolerable damage to kill offending animals in the most humane manner possible.
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The Task Force recommends that DNR conduct a public attitude survey to determine the perceptions, desires, and attitudes of people in Maryland (including regional variation) concerning black bears and to enable the public to provide input on the bear management program. Public understanding and support are imperative for an effective management plan.
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The Task Force recommends that DNR use revenue from bear hunting licenses and permits, etc. as a funding source for the bear management program. If a bear hunting program is initiated, the task force recommends that the State of Maryland no longer provide monetary compensation to landowners for bear damage.
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In the event that a bear hunting program is not initiated, the Task Force recommends that the State of Maryland provides 100-percent compensation for eligible bear damage claims. The BBTF suggests that DNR submit a request to the General Assembly for a $50,000 annual appropriation from the States General Fund as a source of funding for bear damage compensation.
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In the event that a bear hunting program is not initiated, the Task Force recommends to discontinue the sale of Black Bear Conservation Stamps as a revenue-generating program for the bear damage compensation program. The present investment in this program (time, energy, manpower and materials) is greater than the revenue generated.
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The Task Force encourages city and county governments to enact local ordinances to mandate or provide incentives for the use of bear-proof trash containers in residential areas, developments, and tourist areas where bears have become acclimated to trash as a food source.
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The Task Force encourages DNR to work with public safety agencies to develop an emergency plan to be implemented in the extremely rare event of a black bear attack on a human. Personnel who are first responders to these situations need to be adequately trained and have the proper equipment to dispatch a bear.
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The Task Force encourages the General Assembly to authorize new avenues of funding that would be directed to the DNR for the purpose of black bear management, research, education, habitat protection, and conflict resolution.
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At the present time hunting license revenues and federal excise taxes on sporting arms and ammunition provide the primary funding source for wildlife management in Maryland. In the event that a regulated bear hunting program is not initiated, the Task Force recommends that DNR change the classification of the black bear from a "Game" to a "Non-game" species. At the same time hunting license revenues should no longer be used as the primary funding source for bear management.
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