Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R-24, Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon) sent a letter today to Commissioner Lisa Jackson of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requesting that the Department publicly release its figures on the present bear population in New Jersey.

"We are extremely concerned about the growing number of black bear sightings and incidents in rural and suburban New Jersey, " Oroho stated. "Human encounters with bears have become more commonplace, especially in the northwestern part of the state, and we want more-effective bear management practices enacted and enforced."

"We are disturbed by reports that the Department of Environmental Protection is keeping information on the estimated number of bears and their impact on this State concealed from the media and the public, " McHose said. "It is frightening to think that the DEP may be withholding information that may affect citizens' public safety."

The latest monthly report on bear activity compiled by the State Fish and Game Council indicates that incidents involving bears have increased by 44 percent over the same period in 2007. Complaints include bears approaching children at a picnic, breaking into enclosed garages and greenhouses, and disturbing a sleeping sunbather. Yet the fiscal 2009 budget reduced the appropriation for bear management from $850, 000 last year to $678, 000.

"Bears represent a significant public safety threat to children, tourists and family pets, " Chiusano said. "The so-called 'comprehensive approach' to bear management doesn't seem to be working. We need to consider a new plan."

If the Commissioner doesn't release the information requested in a timely fashion, all three legislators are prepared to petition for the release of the information through New Jersey's Open Public Records Act.

*Full letter to Commissioner Jackson appears below

Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

401 East State Street, 7th Floor

P.O. Box 402

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0402

Dear Commissioner Jackson:

We are writing in regard to the growing number of black bear incidents that continue to occur in New Jersey, especially those communities located throughout Sussex and Morris counties.

As you may be aware, the latest monthly report covering the period encompassing May 20 to June 20 on bear activity compiled by the State Fish and Game Council indicates that bear incidents have increased by 44 percent over the same period in 2007. Media reports have indicated a series of ever more disturbing incidents over the last month, including bears approaching children at a picnic, breaking into enclosed garages and greenhouses, and one bear that decided to disturb a sleeping sunbather. In fact, a bear recently walked right past our legislative office, in a well-traveled office park in Sparta, and proceeded to walk across the property near a pre-school.

In the face of this growing threat, you have maintained your opposition to any bear management policy that includes hunting in favor of a policy that exclusively employs using non-lethal methods such as public education, control of human-derived food, and research and training. This policy choice is, of course, belied by the fact that this supposedly more "comprehensive" approach to bear management was undercut by the Governor's budget, which reduced the appropriation for bear management from $850, 000 in Fiscal Year 2008 to $678, 000 in Fiscal Year 2009.

However, as alarming as these trends may be, we are particularly concerned by reports which indicate that the Department of Environmental Protection is keeping information on the estimated number of bears in this State, as well as the estimated number of bears currently located in two study areas (along the Kittatinny Ridge and at Bearfort Mountain), concealed from the media and the public at-large.

We know of no reason why this information should not be divulged, other than to obscure the facts about a growing bear population of which the residents of northwestern New Jersey are already well aware. They see it everyday. We hope that you comply with this request, but if these numbers are not released for public review, we intend on obtaining them through a formal request under the "Open Public Records Act."

Therefore, we implore you to immediately disclose the department's best estimates of the number of bears residing in the State, as well the number of bears in the two areas currently under scientific study. The residents of northwestern New Jersey deserve transparency from the Corzine Administration on this issue, and not secrecy in the face of facts that may dispel the wisdom of the department's anti-hunting stance. Particularly in light of the increased bear-human encounters, to delay giving the public a full and accurate accounting of the State's bear population would be irresponsible.

We look forward to the timely disclosure of this information. If you wish to discuss this issue further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Steven V. Oroho, Senator
Alison Littell McHose, Assemblywoman
Gary R. Chiusano, Assemblyman