Posted January 29th, 2021 for Humane Society Share The Humane Society of the United States presents Indiana state Rep. David Abbott, R-Rome City, with the Indiana 2020 Legislator of the Year Award for his efforts to help animals in Indiana and beyond by authoring House Bill 1200 to end the private possession of and direct contact with dangerous wild animals in Indiana. The Indiana House Natural Resources Committee considered the legislation last year but did not vote on it. Despite the bill being unsuccessful last year, Rep. Abbott is committed to re-working the bill and this session he authored House Bill 1398: The Cub Protection Act, which would prohibit direct contact with big cats and bears.
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest on efforts to reintroduce Grizzly bears back to the Lower 48? J. Whitaker, silver Spring, MD
Grizzly bears, once a common sight in the Lower 48, were hunted and killed to near extinction over the century that followed colonialism. Today, these majestic, lumbering creatures are the focus of many restoration efforts in the United States.
Grizzlies are an important part of the ecosystems they typically inhabit. They aerate soils in the meadows where they dig, distribute plant seeds across the forest floor after eating fruits and nuts, and are a keystone species given their position at the top of the food chain i.e., if Grizzly populations are suffering, so must be other wildlife populations in the region. In addition to their ecological importance, Grizzly bears also hold a great cultural value for many Native American tribes and Canadian First Nations.
CPW sticks to three-year timeline, for now
RBC | The 11-member Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission hosted two days of virtual meetings Jan. 13 and 14, with approximately eight of 18 total hours allocated to discussing an adaptive management plan for wolf reintroduction.
The passage of Proposition 114 last November, also known as the Gray Wolf Reintroduction Initiative, paved the way for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to bring wolves to the state. Colorado’s urban counties drove the measure through by 56,986 votes, 1.82% of the total votes cast.
In Rio Blanco County, 87.82% voters were against the measure.
TIMELINE
After passage, CPW honed in on a three-year plan to meet a Dec. 31, 2023, due date to begin reintroduction. This deadline was laid out in the legislation.
Animal activist group raises concerns after monkeys die at UL s New Iberia site Ashley White, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
An animal rights group is raising concerns after three monkeys apparently died from heatstroke at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette s New Iberia Research Center.
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, said in a news release it filed the complaint last week with the U.S. Department of Agriculture after obtaining a report outlining the monkeys deaths that was sent from the New Iberia Research Center s director to the director of the Division of Policy and Education at the National Institutes of Health.
A spokesperson for the USDA said it could not confirm receipt of the complaint.
State Senator Wants to Ban Black Bear Hunting in California
A senator in San Francisco has introduced a bill to ban black bear hunting throughout the state of California. Setting aside a thriving bear population and numerous reports of conflicts involving run-ins with people at popular tourist spots.
On Monday, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) introduced Senate Bill 252, “The Bear Protection Act” which happens to be sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States – go figure!
The bill is aimed at banning California’s black bear hunting season which takes place in the fall and early winter. There was some verbiage included that basically said residents and landowners could still harvest bears under a permit to protect public safety, livestock or for scientific research, but I think we all know how that goes.