A new bill would block the hunting of black bears in North Carolina sanctuaries

A Greensboro lawmaker has co-sponsored a bill seeking to block bear hunting in North Carolina sanctuaries. 

House Bill 1072 was filed by Representative Pricey Harrison along with 12 fellow Democrats. The legislation would halt a ruling by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that would allow limited black bear hunting in three Western North Carolina bear sanctuaries.

Commission officials say the ruling is needed to help slow the growth rate of the bear population in the mountains, where there has been an increase in bear encounters with humans.

But activists have been speaking out against the bear sanctuary proposal, which has also garnered overwhelming public opposition.

Representative Harrison tells the Smoky Mountain News that it makes no sense to allow bear killing in bear sanctuaries and calls it “a terrible rule.”

Representatives from the House Wildlife Resources Committee say they need more time to learn about the issue and investigate other possible solutions.