Proposed 'Pedals Law' Would Ban Black Bear Hunting For 5 Years In NJ

UNION, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Sen. Ray Lesniak has introduced a bill called "Pedals' Law" that would ban black bear hunting in the state for five years.

It's named after Pedals, the injured bear that gained famed for walking around on two legs, but was apparently among the 549 bears killed last week in a six-day hunt.

Lesniak wants to establish a program of non-lethal control of the bear population.

His bill would also make it illegal to feed bears in the wild and would require the use of bear-resistant garbage containers in populated areas where they're known to roam.

"The only time they come into contact with the public is if the public leaves garbage out in the street or the hunters bait them they get used to human type of food," Lesniak told 1010 WINS. "This is a humane legislation in an attempt to stop these bear hunts."

Bear hunting resumed in 2010 as a way to curb what the state said was a growing population.

The firearm-only season for bear hunting this year will take place from Dec. 5-10. Officials have the option to extend the bear hunt if the harvest objectives are not met.

New Jersey officials extended the 2015 hunt by four days after not reaching their target number during the regular season.

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