Tucson, AZ - SCI Foundation and several SCI Chapters were the major sponsors of the 23rd Eastern Black Bear Workshop, hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission from April 24-27, 2017. The Eastern Black Bear Workshop is a meeting of state and provincial bear biologists and wildlife managers to discuss and actively find solutions to management issues at the regional level.

"SCI Foundation and wildlife managers are natural allies," said Warren Sackman, President of SCI Foundation. "We support agency research and are proud to serve as a voice for science-based bear management."

Black bear numbers are on the rise in many eastern states, now estimated at 800,000 across North America. But growing bear populations and expanding range also bring more nuisance calls, vehicle collisions, human injury, and human-bear conflict. Workshop participants discussed the urgent need to liberalize hunting seasons and increase hunting opportunities to help mitigate this escalating conflict.

Today, negative public opinion, combined with a general lack of understanding among the public about the use of hunting as a management tool, has seriously stalled efforts to properly manage bears. These factors led to Florida recently closing bear hunting for two years.

"There is a clear information gap in the public on the value of hunting and the need to manage black bears," continued Sackman. "We hope to see more hunting opportunities opened and more management decisions made based on science in the future."

SCI Foundation looks forward to participating in the 5th International Human-Bear Conflicts Workshop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on March 25-28, 2018. The next Eastern Black Bear Workshop will take place in Wisconsin during the spring of 2019. SCI Foundation plans to continue its support for this important workshop, helping demonstrate how hunters are first for wildlife.

Thank you to the SCI Three State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina Triangle, Northwoods, and Allegheny Mountains Chapters for sponsoring the workshop. For more information on SCI Foundation go to our First For Wildlife blog, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, or visit our website at www.safariclubfoundation.org.

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Safari Club International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that funds and directs worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation and outdoor education. Any contribution may be tax deductible under Internal Revenue Code section 170(c) as a charitable contribution to the extent permitted by law. Tax deductible amount of gift is reduced by the "Fair market Value" of any goods, services, or advantages that a sponsor receives for the donation. EIN #86-0292099.