December 09, 2003 (rt23 news) - December 10, 2003, TRENTON -- United States District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton today lifted the federal court order prohibiting hunting for bears at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

The Order, issued Friday December 5, 2003, was in response to a federal suit filed by Fund for Animals claiming that the Director of the National Park Service and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior had violated the National Park Service Organic Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Fund for Animals also alleged that the hunt would cause irreparable harm to their members and was against the public interest. The New Jersey Fish and Game Council sought and was granted the right to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the bear hunting season, which was part of the 2003 Game Code adopted by the Council.

Ruling against the Fund for Animals in all counts, Judge Walton found that the Fund had failed to establish any violations of the statutes by the National Park Service or the Secretary of the Interior. The court also failed to find that Fund for Animals would suffer any irreparable harm.

A summary of Judge Walton’s decision is posted on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s homepage at www.state.nj.us/dep.

Monday, December 9 - Day 1
A total of 116 bear were taken during the first day of the bear hunt, which began yesterday, December 9. Of the 116, 76 bear were female and 40 male. A total of 85 bear were taken in Sussex County, 13 in Warren County, seven in Morris County, 10 in Passaic County and one in Bergen County. Of the 116 bear taken, six were previously identified as nuisance bears and five were taken in previously identified problem areas where bear/human conflicts occurred. One bear taken during the hunt had been previously relocated out of an urban area.

Tuesday, December 10 - Day 2
A total of 66 bear were taken statewide on Tuesday, December 9 - the second day of the bear hunt, bringing the total number to 182.

Of the 182, 120 bear were female and 62 male. A total of 137 bear were taken in Sussex County, 19 in Warren County, 11 in Morris County, 14 in Passaic County and one in Bergen County. A total of 25 of the 182 bears taken were among the approximately 290 bear tagged by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife within the past year. The updated number of nuisance bears taken is still being calculated, and will be released upon availability.

Wednesday, December 11 - Day 3
A total of 39 bears were taken statewide on Wednesday, December 10 - the third day of the bear hunt, bringing the total number to 221.

Of the 221, 144 bear were female and 77 male. A total of 168 bear were taken in Sussex County, 22 in Warren County, 14 in Morris County, 16 in Passaic County and one in Bergen County. A total of 30 of the 221 bears taken were among the bears tagged by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife within the past year. Of the 221 bear taken, nine were previously identified as nuisance bears, 6 were taken in previously identified problem areas where bear/human conflicts occurred. Three bear taken during the hunt had been previously relocated out of an urban area.

Thirteen bears were taken from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Thursday, December 12 - Day 4
A total of 19 bear were taken statewide on Thursday, December 11 - the fourth day of the bear hunt, bringing the total number to 240.

Of the 240, 151 bear were female and 89 male. A total of 175 bear were taken in Sussex County, 30 in Warren County, 17 in Morris County, 17 in Passaic County and one in Bergen County. A total of 32 of the 240 bear taken were among the bear tagged by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife within the past year. Of the 240 bear taken, 11 were previously identified as nuisance bear, 6 were taken in previously identified problem areas where bear/human conflicts occurred. Three bear taken during the hunt had been previously relocated out of an urban area.

Friday, December 13 - Day 5
As of 4:00 p.m. today, 13 bear were taken statewide, bringing the total number to 253.