Animal rights groups that wanted to see an end to the black bear hunt have lost their fight in court today. Come Monday, black bears will be shot across the state.
The fight will not stop there, however, according to attorney Doris Lin, who represents animal rights activists. She says her clients will file an appeal with the State Supreme Court.
The state approved the hunt, saying it was the best way to control New Jersey's bear population. Last December, 600 bears were killed during a six-day hunt.
Two animal rights groups had sued the state, claiming it lied about the results of previous hunts to justify continuing the practice.
Black bears have been spotted in every county in the state, and estimates put the population around 3,400.