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Gov. Phil Murphy’s banning of bear hunts on state lands only displeased hunters and animal advocates alike
-- the former wanting all possible
territory for trophy hunting; the latter wanting no territory used for bear hunts -- but it also seems to have
brought out the worst in many people.
First, though, it’s important to realize that Murphy’s halfway action
continues to jeopardize New Jersey’s black bears -- possibly even more than
before, since historically most bears have been killed on private land. And get this: some hunters are threatening to
drive bears off state property onto private property for the sole purpose of
killing them as soon as they get there.
Sweet, isn’t it?
But it gets
worse. Now we’re hearing about farmers selling plots of their (private) land
for
hunters to use,
and hunters offering to pay land owners who report bears on their property so
they might swoop in and shoot them. Talk
about “canned hunts” and must-kill mentalities.
The latest development:
three pro-hunting groups may challenge Murphy’s executive order that bars bear
hunting on state lands. One hunter-rep
said, “This is both a legal and scientifically sound hunt.” To which anyone who knows anything about the
situation would say “Hogwash.” At least.
Black bears’ bad rap is essentially undeserved, but numbers of hunters
keep earning a bad rap! And that
includes their enablers, the state officials who disdain non-lethal means of
managing bears.
In fact, “Murphy’s law NJ” -- when things are done halfway, damage is maximized
-- pertains here. Former President Barack Obama encouraged our “better angels,”
but that concept seems wasted on our
governor: with his half-way, please-no-one ban, Murphy has unleashed the worst
impulses of people after trophies and money.
The first week of the hunt begins October 8, with a second week in
December. There’s still time to phone the governor’s office every day (609-292-6000)
and urge him to keep his promise to end the hunt -- on all state lands.
Appreciate, and save, elephants
Last Saturday, September 22, was Elephant Appreciation Day -- the least
we can do for these endangered iconic animals who if they’re not being slaughtered
for their tusks are being captured and forced into heavy labor, performing or
wasting away in zoos.
California’s Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS (Pawsweb.org),
houses both African and Asian elephants saved from circuses and other forms of abuse
devised by humans.
A contented PAWS
resident for the last 11 years, Asian elephant Gypsy was kidnapped from her wild
birthplace and family, and sold into a life of circus captivity, with “near
constant chaining, performing at the point of a bullhook and continuous travel”
-- for 40 years.
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Appreciate? Well of course, but more important so we never have a world without them, Save
the Elephants. (savetheelephants.org)
A comforting idea
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Even though historically, dog days have to do with the dog star Sirius
and the sun -- and a period of uncomfortable sultry weather -- there’s no rule
against cat days of winter coming into being by decree.
What could be better in cold gray January and February than following
the lead of comfort-loving cats? Seek
the cozy and the warm; cuddle in fluffy blankets; keep the fireplace going and
glowing. Do the equivalent of stretching
out on radiators at sunny (well-insulated) windows.
Doze. . .
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