California is currently considering legislation that could legalize the use of hunting dogs to track and pursue black bears, a practice previously banned in the state. Assembly member Heather Hadwick has introduced a bill aimed at reversing the existing prohibition, citing concerns over the increasing bear population and growing human-bear conflicts.
Concerns Over Rising Bear Encounters
The proposed legislation, Assembly Bill 1038, argues that the state’s black bear population has exceeded its “carrying capacity,” leading to more frequent encounters between bears and humans. A specific incident in 2023, in which a woman in Downieville lost her life in a bear attack, is referenced as an example of the dangers posed by this growing population. According to Hadwick, reintroducing trained hounds to chase bears without harming them could serve as a method of hazing, reinstating a natural fear of humans in bears and reducing the likelihood of aggressive encounters.
Proposal for a “Pursuit Season”
A statement from Hadwick’s office emphasizes that the bill seeks to allow a “pursuit season,” wherein trained dogs would be used to haze bears non-lethally. This measure, proponents argue, could contribute to wildlife management by deterring bears from entering populated areas.
The proposed pursuit season would operate similarly to regulated wildlife management programs in other states, where trained hunting dogs track and chase bears without directly harming them. Supporters argue that this would serve as an effective deterrent, conditioning bears to associate human presence with danger and ultimately discouraging them from venturing into residential or urban areas in search of food.
Hadwick’s office has framed this approach as a form of non-lethal wildlife management, in which the presence of trained hounds alone would be sufficient to drive bears away without the need for direct human intervention. The pursuit season would occur within specific timeframes to regulate the practice, preventing excessive disturbance to bear populations and ensuring it aligns with broader conservation efforts.
While proponents claim the strategy could help mitigate human-bear conflicts, opponents argue that the real intent of the bill is to facilitate bear hunting. The language of the bill suggests that allowing hounds to pursue bears would increase the number of bears killed annually, sparking concerns from wildlife advocacy groups that it would effectively reinstate a hunting method deemed inhumane in 2012.
Opposition from Wildlife Advocates
However, not all stakeholders agree with this approach. The Tahoe Bear League has voiced strong opposition to the bill, arguing that it would effectively enable hunters to use GPS-collared hounds to chase and tree bears, making them easier targets for hunters. The organization contends that this method is not about non-lethal deterrence but rather a tool to facilitate hunting.
Potential Unintended Consequences
Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, has questioned the effectiveness of hounding as a solution to human-bear conflicts. She points out that such conflicts primarily occur in residential areas, not deep within the wilderness where the practice of hounding would take place. She further warns that chasing bears in their natural habitat could drive them out of the forests and into towns, exacerbating the very problem the bill claims to address.
In her view, this strategy is counterproductive. Rather than teaching bears to avoid humans, Bryant argues, it would likely result in increased bear activity in suburban areas, where the presence of hounds is absent. She insists that true hazing should occur at the moment a bear engages in unwanted behavior, such as breaking into a home or rummaging through garbage, not when the bear is minding its own business in the wilderness.
Regional Bear Management Efforts
Hadwick’s legislative district spans the northeastern region of California, extending from the Oregon border to the Tahoe Basin. This largely rural region has seen an increase in bear encounters, leading her to advocate for new wildlife management strategies. In promoting the bill, her office has highlighted the potential role of trained hounds in enforcing non-lethal deterrence. Despite this, the bill itself acknowledges that its provisions would likely result in more bears being hunted each year.
History of the Hounding Ban
The use of hunting dogs to track and pursue bears has been prohibited in California since 2012, when Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation banning the practice. That law, introduced by then-State Senator Ted Lieu, cited data indicating that nearly half of the bears killed by hunters had been pursued with hounds. Supporters of the ban, including the Humane Society, labeled the practice as both cruel and unsporting, as it often forces bears to climb trees, rendering them easy targets for hunters.
Current Bear Hunting Regulations
Under existing regulations, bear hunting is permitted in California with the purchase of a license. While there is no limit to the number of bear hunting tags issued, the state does impose an annual cap on the total number of bears that can be legally harvested, currently set at 1,700. Hadwick’s bill suggests that since the prohibition on hounding was enacted, the bear population has surged, contributing to a rise in human-bear encounters.
Differing Perspectives on the Bill
In her defense of the bill, Hadwick describes the current situation as one in which rural communities live in fear of growing bear populations, which she believes pose an increasing threat to both lives and livelihoods. She asserts that reintroducing hounding will help keep bears wild while ensuring public safety in affected areas.
Despite Hadwick’s assurances, opposition to the bill remains strong. The Bear League has vowed to fight the legislation, disputing claims that black bear populations have doubled in recent years. While reports indicate a spike in human-bear conflicts in 2021 and 2022—particularly in the Lake Tahoe Basin—the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has stated that black bear numbers have remained relatively stable over the past decade. According to a draft version of the Black Bear Conservation Plan for California, the estimated bear population in the state falls somewhere between 50,000 and 80,000.
Debate Over Ethical Wildlife Management
Bryant acknowledges that hazing is a valuable technique in bear management, but she stresses that it must be implemented appropriately. Effective hazing, she explains, requires immediate intervention when a bear is engaging in problematic behavior, not indiscriminate pursuit through the wilderness. She further distinguishes hunting hounds from domestic dogs, emphasizing that these trained packs, equipped with GPS collars, operate with a level of aggression and coordination that significantly differs from ordinary pet dogs.
Future of the Legislation
With the debate intensifying, the future of Hadwick’s bill remains uncertain. Supporters argue that reinstating hounding could serve as a valuable tool in controlling bear populations and reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Opponents, however, view the bill as a means to reintroduce a hunting practice previously deemed inhumane and ineffective.
As discussions continue, the divide between those advocating for stricter bear population management and those pushing for ethical and humane treatment of wildlife grows wider. The controversy surrounding this legislation underscores broader tensions over how best to balance conservation efforts, public safety, and the ethical treatment of animals in California.
