SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) release of its updated Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan, Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R–Alturas) is calling for swift passage of her bill, AB 1038, to align state policy with the science-backed conservation efforts outlined in the new plan.
“This new plan shows what my communities already know, bears are out of control in California,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “The Department’s new plan lays out a thoughtful, science-driven path forward, and AB 1038 is the legislative piece that ensures we follow that path responsibly.”
The updated Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan—the first such update since 1998—estimates California is home to approximately 60,000 black bears, which is two times higher than previous estimates with the largest bear density in the world. The plan was developed using the best available science and reflects input from over 5,000 stakeholders across the state.
AB 1038, authored by Assemblywoman Hadwick, would reinforce science-based wildlife policy and provide CDFW with the authority to allow houndsmen to use trained dogs to haze bears, keeping them away from populated areas. This approach will reduce human-wildlife conflicts in suburban and urban areas, increase public safety, and prevent further escalation of dangerous encounters.
Hadwick, speaking in support of the CDFW’s updated plan and her legislation, said “AB 1038 supports a balanced approach—one that respects the role black bears play in ecosystems, reduces dangerous human-wildlife encounters, and provides opportunities for public engagement, education, and recreation.”
Sheriff Michael Fisher of Sierra County, where California’s first recorded human death caused by a black bear occurred, also stated “Black bear conflict is a massive and growing problem especially here in Sierra County, where these interactions pose serious threats to public safety and tens of thousands of dollars of property damage. Despite no increase in our county’s footprint or population, bear encounters have become more frequent and more dangerous. I thank and support Assemblywoman Hadwick for introducing AB 1038, which takes a critical step toward protecting rural communities like ours from problem bears.”
The CDFW has already begun implementing strategies to manage human/bear conflicts. However, without additional wildlife management tools that AB 1038 would provide, Hadwick warns that the Department’s efforts could fall short.
“AB 1038 puts the Department’s plan to reduce human/bear conflict and improve public safety into action,” said Hadwick.
AB 1038 is scheduled for its first committee hearing later this month on April 29th.
For more details on the CDFW’s Bear Conservation Plan, click here.
For more details on AB 1038, click here.
Assemblywoman Hadwick represents the 1st Assembly District, which includes portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
