Over 1 Million Bears Killed as Trophies – USA in Hunting Frenzy

New report reveals: Over 1.2 million bears killed in 25 years. Trophy hunting in the USA reaches record levels – despite widespread opposition.

Editorial Wild beim Wild — 15 October 2025

A report by Humane World for Animals exposes the cruel extent of trophy hunting of black bears in North America.

Between 2000 and 2024, more than 1 million bears (1,014,773) were legally killed as trophies in the USA. In addition, an unknown number of bear cubs perished miserably after hobby hunters killed their mothers. Together with imported trophies from Canada, the total number of animals killed over the past 25 years amounts to approximately 1.2 million bears.

Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Maine: Top Killers

According to the new report by Humane World for Animals, three states lead the grim statistics:

Wisconsin: 92’112 bears killed
Pennsylvania: 83’914
Maine: 81’489

These figures reveal a shocking picture of a hunting industry that is moving ever further away from ecological or ethical principles.

Hunting Despite Declining Hunter Numbers – the Paradox

Although the number of hunters in the USA has declined significantly over the past two decades, bear hunting continues to increase. In 2000, approximately 34’000 bears were killed; in 2023 already 51’000 – the deadliest year of the entire survey period.

This development shows: bear hunting is no longer a means of “population management” but a commercial hobby with trophy character.

“Senseless Extermination” – Humane World for Animals Sounds the Alarm

Trophy hunters have senselessly exterminated over one million black bears in just 25 years,
says Wendy Keefover, Director of Wildlife Protection at Humane World for Animals.

She criticizes the fact that government authorities hunting frequently justify with alleged safety concerns. But the numbers argue otherwise: despite rising kill figures, the number of bear attacks — already rare — has not decreased.

In other words: killing bears does not make people safer — it serves solely to satisfy the vanity of hunters.

Brutal Hunting Methods: From Baiting, Traps, and Hounds

Many states permit practices that, even in the 21st century, seem like relics of another era:

Spring hunting, during which nursing bear mothers are killed.
Baiting with junk food to lure bears.
Hound hunting, in which other wildlife are also injured.
Bow hunting, in which many animals do not die immediately but perish in agony.
Trap hunting, which remains legal in Alaska and Maine.

These methods stand in stark contradiction to any notion of “fair chase” — and reveal how deeply trophy hunting is entrenched in American culture.

Black Bears as International Trade Commodities

Black bears are today the most frequently imported mammal trophy into the United States. Approximately 6’000 bear trophies are imported annually — more than 13 times the number of the second most imported species, the chacma baboon.

Between 1999 and 2023, according to CITES data, 175’438 body parts from black bears were traded internationally.

Society Opposes Trophy Hunting — Yet Politics Remain Inactive

According to representative surveys, 76% of the U.S. population opposes trophy hunting of black bears.
Opposition is similarly high in states such as Florida, Alaska, and California.

Nevertheless, authorities continue to rely on hunting quotas, bait hunting, and commercial licenses, rather than resolving human-bear conflicts through waste management, food source removal, or public education.

A Wake-Up Call for the Next 25 Years

The relentless killing of black bears must sharpen our collective awareness. The next 25 years must align more closely with the values of Americans, demands Keefover.

The report is a wake-up call for policymakers and society alike: an end to trophy hunting of bears is needed — in the United States, Canada, and worldwide.

The figures reveal how far hunting policy in North America has strayed from ethical wildlife protection . While bears are regarded as a symbol of freedom and nature, they are systematically killed — often under flimsy pretexts.

Bear hunting is neither necessary nor humane. It is a relic of a bygone era – and its abolition would represent progress for animal ethics and conservation.