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Stop California from Bringing Back Cruel Bear Hunts with Dogs

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

California’s only remaining bear species is once again at risk of brutal hunts with dogs, a needless cruelty that ignores real solutions and puts both wildlife and communities in greater danger.

A black bear standing among tall grasses and shrubs, facing forward with dense forest in the background.

More than a decade ago, California ended the brutal practice of chasing black bears with packs of dogs. Known as hounding, it was condemned for cruelty and for tipping the balance of fair chase against wildlife. But a new proposal, Assembly Bill 1038, threatens to bring it back1.

Supporters claim bears are “out of control” and that hounding can reintroduce fear of humans. In reality, experts say bear populations have been stable for the past decade. The rise in human-bear encounters stems from people moving into bear habitat and leaving easy food sources accessible2.

The Cruelty of Hounding

Hounding involves unleashing GPS-collared packs of dogs to pursue bears for miles until the exhausted animal climbs a tree. In this state, bears become defenseless. Confrontations with dogs can cause severe injury to both animals, and the chase itself is a form of harassment3. Allowing this practice to return is not hazing; it is legalized torment that has no place in a modern, humane California.

Critics warn hounding will not stop bears from raiding trash bins or wandering into neighborhoods. In fact, it could push bears out of the forest and into communities, worsening the conflicts the bill claims to address4.

Real Solutions Already Exist

The Department of Fish and Wildlife and conservation groups have long pointed to proven, non-lethal strategies that work. Bear-proof trash cans, securing food and pet feed, electric fencing around livestock, and simple noise-based hazing at the moment of conflict keep communities safe and protect wildlife. Education and prevention reduce encounters far more effectively than cruelty disguised as management2.

Take a Stand for Bears and Communities

California once lost its grizzly bears to overhunting. Today, the black bear is the state’s only surviving species. Bringing back hounding threatens to repeat the mistakes of the past. Bears deserve protection, and Californians deserve solutions rooted in science, conservation, and compassion.

Add your name today to urge the Governor and Legislature to keep hounding outlawed and ensure a safer, more humane future for both people and bears.

More on this issue:

  1. Bay Area News Group, Mercury News (26 February 2025), "California bill would allow ‘hounding’ of bears by pursuers with dogs."
  2. The Times Editorial Board, Los Angeles Times (9 March 2025), "For California towns with bear problems, using dogs to hunt is no fix."
  3. Julie Brown Davis, SFGATE (3 March 2025), "California is considering letting hunting dogs attack bears."
  4. Tara Campbell, ABC7 News (2 March 2025), "Activists sound off on CA bill that would bring back 'cruel' black bear hunting practice."

The Petition

To the Governor of California and California State Legislature,

We, the undersigned, call on the Governor and members of the California Legislature to reject any attempt to bring back the cruel practice of using dogs to chase black bears.

California banned hounding in 2012 for good reason. Packs of GPS-collared hounds pursue bears for miles until the animals are exhausted, cornered, or forced into trees. This is not hazing — it is harassment that inflicts unnecessary suffering and destabilizes natural ecosystems. Allowing this practice to return would undo hard-won protections and put California’s only remaining bear species at risk.

Black bears are vital to California’s ecosystems. They disperse seeds, recycle nutrients, and help maintain balance in wild landscapes. They are not “out of control”; rather, people have moved deeper into bear habitat, creating more opportunities for conflict. Science and common sense tell us that the real solution is prevention: securing trash, removing food attractants, and educating residents and visitors about living responsibly in bear country.

We must choose conservation and humanity over cruelty and fear. The people of California deserve policies rooted in respect for wildlife, not outdated practices that cause harm without solving the problem.

By ensuring the permanent prohibition of hounding, you will protect wildlife, safeguard communities, and set an example of compassionate and effective stewardship. These actions will guarantee a better future for bears, people, and the shared lands we call home.

Sincerely,

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