Wild Animal Overpopulation
By DB
@dgobucks226 (37621)
November 15, 2017 5:00pm CST
More and more there has been problems with controlling the wild animal populations that have been invading human habitats. We have a black bear problem in New Jersey (U.S) with the number soaring to over 3,500. These bears are surviving longer due to favorable living conditions and a abundance of food sources. According to Biologist Patrick Carr, "they’re not food-stressed because we have such a diverse habitat, so the cubs are getting tremendous resources, which is increasing their survival rate." In addition, the Black Bear's liter has also grown and the cubs mortality rate has improved.
There have been numerous complaint calls by residents about these bears becoming a nuisence in their neighborhoods. The most common complaints are threat to life and property by breaking into homes, attacking livestock or destroying agriculture.
What do you think can be done to reduce this problem? Should a hunting season be used to control New Jersey's black bear population?
Source- NJ Star Ledger
Photo- state of New Jersey
19 people like this
16 responses
@LadyDuck (502343)
• Italy
17 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 Humans are cruel, WE invade their territory and then we want to kill them because there are too many. Well, we did this with early inhabitants of many places.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
@LadyDuck Very true and something that has gone on throughout history. In a word "territoriality"
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
It makes sense! A much better solution to try for sure.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Nov 17
It may come to controlled killing to keep population in check.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 It isn't good for the bears themselves to be overcrowded.
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
16 Nov 17
Sadly, I think that will become more of a solution.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
@JohnRoberts I wonder then, if they would self-regulate their own population. Survival of the fittest and competing for food sources? Sorry, you comment had me thinking this to myself? I don't know the answer, just speculating?
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Nov 17
People and wild animals moving into each others neighborhoods is problematic. I have been up in arms several times over the last few years hearing of mountain lions being killed due to people encroaching on their territories. It's not fair. They should be relocated, not killed.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 ......Why must they always have to kill the animal?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
@celticeagle Very good question. They need to try better solutions...
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Nov 17
I say kill only what you will eat.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
16 Nov 17
Hm, for awhile I didn't like hunting - but there is a valid point - in that it does keep things in balance.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
17 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 -- I do not personally enjoy the thought of hunting. I don't know if I could so casually take an animal's life (unless it were hurting me or someone else, or I needed it to eat) -- that said -- I do eat meat. I just don't like thinking about where it comes from. So... for myself - I don't mind hunters as long as they make use of eating what they hunt -- sport hunters are a different deal
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
It is such a difficult issue. There are many hunters out there that love tracking and killing animals. It is a way to reduce the population, but a horrible way to do it. But I guess if they did not control the animal population, things like starvation or animals killing off each other would occur. Lot of interesting good comments here on a subject with no easy solution...
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
15 Nov 17
Not sure what they do about animals coming into residential areas..happens here too DB.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
17 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 I agree, the onus is on people.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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16 Nov 17
People need to be more careful with their trash. If food is available bears will look for it.
2 people like this
@Fleura (34957)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 Absolutely, if the bears were the ones writing about the problem the outlook would be quite different!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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29 Nov 17
You could say that, it's all on your perspective. After all, the animals were there first! But since the article is one written by humans, and not animals, their perspective probably is not going to be sympathetic to the bears.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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19 Nov 17
Yes, I would much rather meet face to face with a Koala or Kangaroo than a Black Bear, lol.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43579)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 17
Here in Colorado Springs, deer are overpopulated. No idea what they plan on doing about it, though.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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16 Nov 17
We have a deer hunting season here. I see so many deer killed on the side of the road now.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43579)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Nov 17
@dgobucks226 - Sad. I think they have brought up hunting in the city because there are so many of them. Like that's going to end well.
2 people like this
@121266lulu (350)
• China
16 Nov 17
Hmmm. bear is the rare animals in China. More flexible hunting policy maybe can alleviate this problem.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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17 Nov 17
Yes, we do! Lots of ignorance or lack of knowledge out there.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
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21 Jul 18
Wildlife in doing what comes naturally to them finding food sources causes a real dilemma. How can we both live in the same space? Your suggestions might be necessary.
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