As Nevada experiences wildfires, calls are increasing for the Nevada Department of Wildlife to cancel the upcoming bear hunt.
There are concerns around the bear hunt because the wildfires have made it hard for bears to find food and water. Some have even suffered injuries due to the fires, Fox News reported.
There are 10 hunting areas and eight of them have been burned, are still burning or are close to an area affected by a wildfire, the Independent reported.
“URGENT: Please Take Action! Nevada’s Annual Black Bear Hunt Is Scheduled To Begin On September 15th Despite Recent Catastrophic Wildfires worldanimalnews.com/take-action-nev via @WorldAnimalNews,” Twitter user Protect All Wildlife said in a Sept. 12 tweet.
The Nevada Department of Wildfire said that hunts could improve habitat conditions, Fox News reported.
The annual bear hunt in Nevada started in 2010. Hunters use dogs to chase bears up trees so they can be shot down, the Independent reported.
“We need to give our bears a break,” Nevada State Director at the Center for Biological Diversity Patrick Donnelly said, according to Fox News. “Climate-fueled catastrophic fire isn’t just hard on us, it’s also hard on wildlife. Bears are struggling to survive and recover from the most difficult summer of their lives, and now they’re going to be chased by dogs and shot to death. It’s unacceptable.”
