Is there an argument that baiting actually inflates the size of the Maine bear population?
Yes, the thousands of bait piles set out in Maine amount to a massive supplemental feeding program for bears. There is no question that there are hundreds of thousands of pounds of bait set out for bears each fall. This supplemental feeding fattens up the bears and probably increases their rate of reproduction and cub survival. More food translates into more cubs, so bear baiting is ultimately self-defeating when it comes to population control. • So, if we didn’t have widespread baiting, then we probably would not have as many bears in the state? Even the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) concedes that the size of the bear population is influenced by available food resources. Recently, the Department predicted a decline in the bear population because of beech bark disease infestation in the state. So, it is a well-established principle that more food for bears translates into more reproduction and an inflated population. Baiting will invariably increase Maine’s
Related Questions
- Could baiting actually increase the population by increasing the reproductive rate of bears through a supplemental feeding program at the onset of their breeding season?
- Is there an argument that baiting actually inflates the size of the Maine bear population?
- Are bears particularly susceptible to baiting?
