Black bears are doing well in California. So well, in fact, that hunters will now have the ability to harvest two bears during California’s season. This was a unanimous decision by the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC), who cited healthy and expanding populations as the reasons for the approval.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) allows a harvest threshold of 1,700 bears per season at present. Within the new allowances, that threshold will stay the same. In 2025, California hunters took 1,181 bears.
“It feels really conservative to propose an increase that the scientists in the department have told us would result, probably, in the order of 100 to 200 more ,” said Erika Zavaleta of the CFGC.
CDFW cites data that shows there were about 15,000 black bears statewide in the 1980s. Today, there could be as many as 80,000 with the animals expanding into Marin and Sonoma Counties north of San Francisco.
“For me, it’s a scientific question and the second tag is supported by the information that we have,” said CFGC member Samantha Murray. “According to multiple lines of information and data and evidence, we have a stable black bear population. I believe in hunting. I believe it’s a natural way to eat meat.”
Fellow CFGC member Darius Anderson, spoke of the experiences he gains from hunting black bears. He wanted to see how California’s science matched up against other state agencies, so he visited North Carolina, which he notes has an active bear management plan and roughly 21,000 animals.
“Their bear population has been steadily expanding and their bear population has been growing to new areas. They are currently harvesting 4,200 bears,” said Anderson. “So, when I look at our number cap of 1,700, I think it’s not only reasonable but I think it does protect where many people in this state have an unusual feeling about bear hunting. The department has managed both the science and the emotion that goes along with this issue.”
(Photo credit: Phil Burkhouse)