State Opens Comment Period for Black Bear Conservation Plan

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has opened a public comment period for the state’s draft Black Bear Conservation Plan, which was released in April 2024. The draft plan serves as an update to the previous plan, which was developed in 1998. CDFW defines two main goal for the Plan: 1) To conserve black bear populations and 2) to provide opportunities for black bear hunting, viewing and public education while minimizing bear-human conflict and considering animal welfare in black bear conservation. CDFW will be accepting comments until June 14, 2024. For more information, including full text of the draft Plan and instructions on how to comment, visit the CDFW Black Bear website.