Fund for Animals Urges Maryland Citizens to Speak Out Against "Unbearable" Hunt

Radio Ads Opposing First Bear Hunt in Fifty Years Feature Award-Winning Actor and Baltimore Native Grant Aleksander

    SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 11 -- With only two days remaining to submit comments on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) draft management plan for black bears, The Fund for Animals is urging citizens to voice their opposition to the plan which calls for Maryland's first bear hunt in fifty years.  DNR has announced dates for the bear hunt to begin this October.
    Public comments are being accepted through 5pm on Friday, February 13, and can be sent to: Black Bear Project, MD DNR, Wildlife & Heritage Service, 1728 King's Run Rd., Oakland, MD 21550, KBLIZZARD@dnr.state.md.us.
    The Fund for Animals also began running radio ads today featuring Baltimore native and soap star Grant Aleksander of CBS's "Guiding Light," urging Maryland citizens to call Governor Ehrlich to protest the cruel and unnecessary trophy hunt of black bears.  The 60-second radio ad can be heard at http://www.fund.org/uploads/md_bears.mp3.
    "Maryland's small black bear population has come back from the brink of extinction, and we must retain the half century of protection for these majestic animals," said Michael Markarian, President of The Fund for Animals and a member of the DNR's 2002 Black Bear Task Force.  "Maryland citizens who submitted comments last year on the Black Bear Task Force report opposed bear hunting by a 5-to-1 margin, and we need Maryland citizens who care about the future of our bears to continue speaking out against this imminent trophy hunt."
    The Fund for Animals is also urging residents to visit its web site at http://www.MarylandBears.com, where they can find questions and answers about black bears, tips on solving bear problems, and information on contacting Governor Ehrlich and their state legislators.  Broadcast quality B-roll footage of black bear hunting is also available from The Fund upon request.