FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Animal rights activists are asking officials why 11 more black bears were killed in Kentucky last year than the 35-bear quota set by state wildlife officials.
The Kentucky Enquirer (http://cin.ci/1SdpLtS) reports that the state had a record black bear hunt in 2015, killing 46 black bears.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Wildlife Division Director Steve Beam says that his office sets conservative quotas, with the quota not being a strict limit.
The Humane Society of the United States, though, says that if the state is calling the hunts population control measures, it should take a more thorough approach to tracking how many bears are in Kentucky.
Beam says Kentucky hasn’t been scientifically tracking its bear population for a few years, but is working to improve its future assessments.