Unusual Sports: Bearbaiting!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Another unusual so-called ‘sport’ is bearb
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Another unusual so-called ‘sport’ is bearbaiting which is practised in many parts of the world.
It is an ancient blood sport, in which a chained-bear and one or more dogs are forced to fight one another. It may also involve pitting a bear against another animal.
A more modern form of bearbaiting involves using edible bait, such as raw meat and sweets, to lure bears into an area for hunting.
Whichever form it takes, bearbaiting has and continues to be the subject of controversy and debate amongst animal rights activists and conservationists.
In the US, bearbaiting is banned in 18 out of the 28 States that allow bear hunting. It is practised in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
In Wisconsin, for example, in 2002, hunters killed 2,415 bears, in which bait was used in 1,720 of those kills.
In the United Kingdom, King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed bearbaiting, which was later banned when Parliament passed the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
aiting which is practised in many parts of the world.
It is an ancient blood sport, in which a chained-bear and one or more dogs are forced to fight one another. It may also involve pitting a bear against another animal.
A more modern form of bearbaiting involves using edible bait, such as raw meat and sweets, to lure bears into an area for hunting.
Whichever form it takes, bearbaiting has and continues to be the subject of controversy and debate amongst animal rights activists and conservationists.
In the US, bearbaiting is banned in 18 out of the 28 States that allow bear hunting. It is practised in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
In Wisconsin, for example, in 2002, hunters killed 2,415 bears, in which bait was used in 1,720 of those kills.
In the United Kingdom, King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed bearbaiting, which was later banned when Parliament passed the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
