This bill amends the existing law regarding the feeding of black bears in New Jersey, specifically by clarifying the prohibitions and exceptions related to such activities. The current law exempts "unintentional feeding" of black bears, which is defined as using materials for purposes other than attracting bears but inadvertently attracting them. The bill removes this exemption and instead specifies a list of activities that are not considered feeding black bears. These include actions by licensed wildlife possessors, agricultural activities, maintaining bird feeders under certain conditions, feeding companion animals, and actions by authorities for wildlife management.

Additionally, the bill revises the enforcement and penalty provisions associated with violations of the feeding prohibition. It establishes that civil penalties for violations will be directed to the municipality where the violation occurred, rather than to the Division of Fish and Wildlife as previously mandated. The bill also stipulates that individuals must receive a prior written warning before being assessed a civil penalty for violations, and it empowers the department to settle penalty claims at its discretion. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the regulations surrounding the feeding of black bears to promote wildlife management and public safety.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 23:2A-14