Sign the petition to protect black bears from trophy hunting

Why it's urgent

No fixed deadline has been published. The group says black bear hunting has increased markedly, and it asks for action now, but no specific decision is named.

The strategy

Signatures are sent to officials and add to public opposition to specific hunting methods. One signature is a small contribution, but petition totals show officials the level of public concern.

Why it scored 42

Scale: Big

Guess: the U.S. black bear population is likely under 1 million based on general knowledge; the group reports about 1 million bears trophy hunted over 25 years, which is about 40,000 a year, and no population count is given.

Severity: Serious

Serious harm: the group describes spring hunts, bait, hounding and snares, which cause prolonged suffering, according to the group, though this is not independently confirmed.

Chance of success: Long shot

Long shot: no pending decision or government movement to restrict black bear hunting is named.

Your difference: Small

Small: one signature among a large number on a general petition.