California’s black bear population is soaring, and Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick is taking action. On February 24, she introduced Assembly Bill 1038, a bold measure aimed at tackling the state’s growing bear numbers with non-lethal management strategies. The bill proposes reintroducing a “pursuit season” that would allow trained dogs to chase and haze bears, encouraging them to stay away from human settlements.
Hadwick, a Republican from Alturas, voiced concern over the increasing danger posed by the rising bear population, which has more than doubled over the past decade. With an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 bears now living in California, the state has seen a rise in human-wildlife conflicts, including the state’s first fatal black bear attack in 2024.
AB 1038 is designed to reduce these dangerous encounters by reintroducing natural behaviors in bears and keeping them away from populated areas. The bill also gives the Fish and Game Commission the power to eventually establish a bear hunting season with dogs as a further management tool.
The legislation is set to undergo hearings in the state Assembly in the coming weeks.
The post Californias Bear Population Boom Spurs New Legislation for Non-Lethal Management appeared first on SierraDailyNews.com.
