Today around 3:30 p.m. I sat here in my office listening via an audio feed to the working session of the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Joint Standing Committee. To start off their working session of there day was the controversial LD1635, an act to prohibit the recreational trapping of bear.

The session did not last longer then ten minutes. Rep. Jackson started off talking by saying “We did have a referendum regardless of many peoples thoughts, I’m not ready to vote against this myself. I’m not ready to go against Maine people.” Then Rep. Jackson moved to ONTP ( Ought Not To Pass). Then there was a quick second of this motion.

Then Rep Eberle from S. Portland stated that she supported the bill as it was written. The speaker heard her out and then moved onto Rep. Gooley. Rep. Gooley talked about how there was already provisions made on the trappers part, for instance the elimination of steel traps. He talked about there being an average of 140 bears out of the 3000 taken each year in Maine that are a result from being trapped. He then stated “It is still a part of bear management overall, I think it should be continued.”

The committee then voted on the motion to ONTP. This was not a unanimous decision, however the specific numbers are unknown at the time it appeared to be the general consensus.

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