Senate Bill 522 would open up a trophy-hunting season on Connecticut’s bears. While on its face it may seem plausible that hunting bears would lead to fewer issues with them, the best available science demonstrates otherwise. Studies show that bear hunting does not address human-bear conflicts or make people safer. Despite this empirical evidence, a vocal minority of trophy hunters and the state Department of Environmental Protection are trying to push through a hunt on our small population of black bears. 

Research shows that trophy hunters are motivated to kill just so they can brag (Psychology Today, “Why Men Trophy Hunt”, March 28, 2017), especially on social media platforms. It is noteworthy that these hunters rarely kill the bears causing problems, because they’re looking for the biggest bear possible not the bears rooting for an easy meal in suburban trash cans. All that matters to trophy hunters is the selfie and the trophy. 

Americans want to see our wildlife conserved for future generations, not squandered for someone’s bragging right. Connecticut’s bear population is very small, and bears are a slow-to-reproduce species. Our bears need protection. 

I urge policymakers to oppose Senate Bill 522 and focus on scientifically proven conflict resolution methods. 

Rosamund Downing

District Leader, The Humane Society of the United States

Stonington