Derek LaceyAsheville Citizen TimesView CommentsAD0:01

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2022/01/26/nc-bear-sanctuary-hunting-porposal-residents-pushback-advocates/9214033002/

A Jan. 20 public meeting on proposed black bear hunting in three Western North Carolina bear sanctuaries brought out dozens of residents ahead of a Feb. 24 vote from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, some citing flawed data used by the commission as the basis for its proposal, while others claimed extra hunting is needed to control the burgeoning bear population.

The wildlife commission is proposingto openPanthertown-Bonas Defeat, Pisgah and Standing Indian bear sanctuaries to permit hunting for the 2022-23 season.

All in-person meetings over theproposedrule changeswere canceled, leaving only the Jan. 20 virtual meeting and ability for residents to comment either online, or by mail or email.

At the outset of the meeting, state black bear and furbearer biologist Colleen Olfenbuttel said bear populations have bounced back and now need to be curtailed.https://1e52c0996ae2ed8dcd4fd629094f5fac.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

In the 1970s…