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N.J. authorizes hunting of black bears

TRENTON, N.J., July 21 (UPI) -- New Jersey authorities say they've approved the state's first bear hunt in five years as part of a plan to deal with an overpopulation of black bears.

The hunt joins other non-lethal measures in an effort to deal with problems caused by the bears, particularly in the northern parts of the state, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.

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The bear population in northwestern New Jersey has grown from 500 in 1992 to more than 3,400 today, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

"It is clear that a historical rise in public complaints regarding black bears is correlated with the growing bear population," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said in a statement. "This public safety issue cannot be ignored.

"Although I respect that some New Jersey residents are opposed to hunting bears," Martin said, "hunting is the only proven and most cost-effective method of wildlife population control and it is utilized successfully by other states with viable bear populations."

The black bear hunt would coincide with the six-day deer-hunting season in December, the Inquirer said.

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