South Carolina sets a new record for black bear hunting, with 237 bears killed this year as the state relaxes regulations around hunting and tracking. A significant factor in this increase is the use of tracking dogs, which has grown from fewer than 1,000 hunters in 2015 to over 1,600 last year, enhancing hunters’ ability to locate the animals.
While state officials assert that the bear population remains stable and may even be growing, critics argue that the surge in hunting could threaten these animals, especially if female bears are targeted. As agencies conduct ongoing population studies to assess the stability of black bears, the debate intensifies over the ethical implications of bear hunting practices, including the use of bait and tracking dogs.
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