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Post by THE GOB-FATHER on Mar 1, 2010 15:30:53 GMT -5
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Maureen Wren
Monday, March 1, 2010 (518) 402-8000
DEC REPORTS: BEAR HARVEST TOTALS FOR 2009 WERE SECOND HIGHEST IN
STATE'S HISTORY
NYS's Three Bear Hunting Regions Each Report Strong Numbers
Bear harvest numbers in 2009 were the second-highest ever
recorded in New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Last fall's harvest
was only exceeded by 2003's record total.
"With bear population numbers growing in New York, it's no
surprise that bear harvest numbers grew last hunting season," said
Commissioner Grannis. "DEC is committed to working with our many
partners to help manage the bear population in a way that is
beneficial
for recreation, while also protective of communities."
Statewide, hunters took 1,487 black bears in 2009 - a 15
percent
increase from the 1,295 taken in 2008. The 2009 increase is
principally due to a strong surge in bear harvest in the Adirondack
region, where the 814 bears taken in 2009 was a 40 percent increase
over
2008. In 2003, 1,864 bears were harvested statewide.
While overall population size plays the largest role in the
annual harvest, take numbers are also strongly influenced by
environmental factors that affect bear movements and the timing of
bear
denning, such as food availability and snowfall. The 2009 early bear
season proved to be the most productive time for hunters in the
Adirondacks, accounting for more than 50 percent of the bear take.
Bears were more active during the early season due to poor production
of
soft mast (cherries and berries), and their increased activity were a
benefit for hunters.
Harvest numbers ran high in New York's other two bear hunting
regions as well: 494 bears were taken in the Southeastern bear area
and
179 in the Central-Western bear area. The totals represented the
second
biggest harvest for each region. These numbers are consistent with
bear
population growth trends in recent years. Bowhunters are especially
important in these areas, accounting for more than one-third of the
bear
take in the Southeastern area and almost 50 percent in the
Central-Western bear hunting area. In general, favorable weather
conditions and a relatively good food supply kept bears from denning
early and led to plenty of opportunities for hunters.
(Note: In recent years, DEC has expanded the number of areas
open to bear hunting in several areas. As a result, in 2009, DEC
changed
the designations of the bear hunting regions historically known as
"Allegany" and "Catskills" to "Central-Western" and
"Southeastern," respectively.)
Hunters play a pivotal role in the state's bear management by
reporting bear harvests and submitting tooth samples which enable DEC
to
determine the age of harvested animals. To encourage participation in
the voluntary tooth sampling program, DEC issues a NYS Black Bear
Cooperator Patch to all hunters who report their harvest and submit a
tooth. More than 750 patches will be distributed for the 2009 hunting
season, with eligible hunters receiving their patch in late summer
2010
when all the age data has been processed.
In addition to harvest totals, DEC uses a variety of indices to
measure bear populations. Taxidermists and DEC wildlife personnel
collect age and sex information from harvested bears, as well as
movement data from tagged bears. This information, along with data
from
incidents of bear-human conflicts, is used to help determine whether
bear populations are increasing or decreasing, and if bears are
expanding their range. The information helps DEC biologists manage
bear
populations and establish future hunting regulations to assure the
management of black bears in New York State is at a level that is both
sustainable and compatible with human interests.
The 2009 bear harvests by county, town, and Wildlife Management
Unit, with comparisons to previous years' bear harvests, are available
on the DEC website: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42232.html .
Historical bear harvest data is available at:
www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42238.html.
Monday, March 1, 2010 (518) 402-8000
DEC REPORTS: BEAR HARVEST TOTALS FOR 2009 WERE SECOND HIGHEST IN
STATE'S HISTORY
NYS's Three Bear Hunting Regions Each Report Strong Numbers
Bear harvest numbers in 2009 were the second-highest ever
recorded in New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Last fall's harvest
was only exceeded by 2003's record total.
"With bear population numbers growing in New York, it's no
surprise that bear harvest numbers grew last hunting season," said
Commissioner Grannis. "DEC is committed to working with our many
partners to help manage the bear population in a way that is
beneficial
for recreation, while also protective of communities."
Statewide, hunters took 1,487 black bears in 2009 - a 15
percent
increase from the 1,295 taken in 2008. The 2009 increase is
principally due to a strong surge in bear harvest in the Adirondack
region, where the 814 bears taken in 2009 was a 40 percent increase
over
2008. In 2003, 1,864 bears were harvested statewide.
While overall population size plays the largest role in the
annual harvest, take numbers are also strongly influenced by
environmental factors that affect bear movements and the timing of
bear
denning, such as food availability and snowfall. The 2009 early bear
season proved to be the most productive time for hunters in the
Adirondacks, accounting for more than 50 percent of the bear take.
Bears were more active during the early season due to poor production
of
soft mast (cherries and berries), and their increased activity were a
benefit for hunters.
Harvest numbers ran high in New York's other two bear hunting
regions as well: 494 bears were taken in the Southeastern bear area
and
179 in the Central-Western bear area. The totals represented the
second
biggest harvest for each region. These numbers are consistent with
bear
population growth trends in recent years. Bowhunters are especially
important in these areas, accounting for more than one-third of the
bear
take in the Southeastern area and almost 50 percent in the
Central-Western bear hunting area. In general, favorable weather
conditions and a relatively good food supply kept bears from denning
early and led to plenty of opportunities for hunters.
(Note: In recent years, DEC has expanded the number of areas
open to bear hunting in several areas. As a result, in 2009, DEC
changed
the designations of the bear hunting regions historically known as
"Allegany" and "Catskills" to "Central-Western" and
"Southeastern," respectively.)
Hunters play a pivotal role in the state's bear management by
reporting bear harvests and submitting tooth samples which enable DEC
to
determine the age of harvested animals. To encourage participation in
the voluntary tooth sampling program, DEC issues a NYS Black Bear
Cooperator Patch to all hunters who report their harvest and submit a
tooth. More than 750 patches will be distributed for the 2009 hunting
season, with eligible hunters receiving their patch in late summer
2010
when all the age data has been processed.
In addition to harvest totals, DEC uses a variety of indices to
measure bear populations. Taxidermists and DEC wildlife personnel
collect age and sex information from harvested bears, as well as
movement data from tagged bears. This information, along with data
from
incidents of bear-human conflicts, is used to help determine whether
bear populations are increasing or decreasing, and if bears are
expanding their range. The information helps DEC biologists manage
bear
populations and establish future hunting regulations to assure the
management of black bears in New York State is at a level that is both
sustainable and compatible with human interests.
The 2009 bear harvests by county, town, and Wildlife Management
Unit, with comparisons to previous years' bear harvests, are available
on the DEC website: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42232.html .
Historical bear harvest data is available at:
www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42238.html.
