Spring bear hunts are…

Spring bear hunts are similar to shooting fish in a barrel . . . but with a lot less skill required. Even so-called "ethical" hunters are opposed to it. The idea of putting out food to attract post-hibernation bears in a state of semi-starvation so that a "hunter" can assassinate them from a stand in the tree above is abhorrent. Where is the "sportsmanship"? This is leaving cubs orphaned when their mothers are inadvertently killed (seriously, who can accurately determine the gender of a large hairy animal from above . . . or at all really) plus conditions bears to seek out food provided by people, thus increasing bear-human conflict. Our poor, poor planet is much too close to her tipping point for us to be enacting policies that will only serve to push her over the edge. We need to preserve whatever precious little pristine wilderness remaining and re-wild much of that stolen from the animal nations. Species are going extinct at an alarming rate and we continue to encroach on their homes. Should those who are managing to survive be reduced to targets for the "fun with a gun" crowd? Surely with our so-called "superior intelligence" we can come up with ways to make a living and peacefully co-exist.