I was appalled to read another radio-collared bear was shot by a hunter who seemingly just had to kill a bear. Any bear ("Second research bear killed by hunter," Sept. 23).
These bears are not being shot by mistake. Some research bears are fitted with collars that are very visible with bright pink ribbons on them.
I don't know why it's not illegal to shoot these bears. There aren't that many of them, and the research gathered from their tracking is valuable.
Sarah, one of the bear killed recently, was a small yearling cub. The person who shot her must see himself or herself as quite the mighty hunter. What a trophy he or she got to bring home.
Another radio-collared bear was shot by a 12-year-old girl hunting for the first time with her father. Her father told her to shoot the bear even though he reportedly saw it was a collared bear. Why?
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Researcher Lynn Rogers of the North American Bear Center plans to again pursue a bill to make it illegal to shoot a radio-collared bear. I support this 100 percent. I hope the bill gets passed so these bears have some protection.
I am an animal lover, not a killer, so I'd be the first to admit I'm very biased when it comes to killing animals. I abhor hunting and trapping and, yes, I have heard all the arguments for hunting to control animal populations. Hunting is big business and that will never change and neither will my view on this subject.
I love the woods and all the creatures that inhabit it. When I go into the woods I carry a camera and take my trophy home without one drop of blood spilled.
Diane M. Podlogar
Chisholm
