Press Release
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance Calls on CBS Sunday Morning to Correct Inaccurate Bear Hunting Segment
Group requests formal correction, counter‑segment, and deeper investigation into wildlife governance and bear “management” practices.
Madison, Wisconsin — The Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance (GLWA) has submitted a formal letter to CBS Sunday Morning requesting a correction, a counter‑segment, and an investigation following the February 1, 2026 broadcast, “On the Hunt for Bear in the Ozarks.”
The segment, which prominently featured Clay Newcomb and the Bear Grease podcast, presented a romanticized and scientifically unsupported portrayal of bear hunting in America. According to GLWA, the piece omitted critical context, amplified demonstrably false claims, and failed to examine the broader system of wildlife governance that shapes how bears are managed across the United States.
GLWA Identifies Systemic Failures and Specific False Claims
Highlights from GLWA’s letter to CBS Sunday Mornimg
- Wildlife governance “cartel”: GLWA cites data showing that the vast majority of wildlife commission seats are held by hunting and agricultural interests, leaving non‑hunters effectively voiceless in decisions about public wildlife.
- Market hunting persists: Contrary to the claim that “market hunting is long gone,” GLWA documents an active, multi‑million‑dollar illegal bear parts trade, including gallbladders and paws.
- Who really funds conservation: Analyses show that most Pittman‑Robertson funding comes from non‑hunting firearm and ammunition purchases, undermining the narrative that hunters alone “pay for wildlife.”
- Animal sentience denial: GLWA notes that Mr. Newcomb’s published statements denying animal emotions contradict the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness and a broad scientific consensus.
- Conflict myths: Peer‑reviewed studies from Ontario and British Columbia show that recreational hunting does not reduce human–bear conflicts and may, in some cases, worsen them.
Public Health Risks and the Reality of Bear “Management”
Bear meat and public health
GLWA’s letter highlights that the CBS segment failed to mention serious public health risks associated with consuming bear meat, including multiple documented outbreaks of trichinellosis. In some cases, individuals who did not eat the meat itself but consumed cross‑contaminated food became infected. Freezing, a common home practice, does not reliably kill Trichinella nativa.
Bear baiting and hounding in Wisconsin
The Alliance also points to Wisconsin as a case study in extreme bear “management” practices:
- 145‑day baiting season compared to 14 days in neighboring Minnesota.
- Peer‑reviewed research showing that roughly 40% of bears’ diets in parts of Wisconsin come from artificial bait, including junk food and chocolate.
- State estimates of more than 4 million gallons of bait dumped annually on the landscape.
- Months‑long hound training and hunting seasons, during which dogs pursue bears—including nursing mothers—often in hot weather.
- A state program that pays hunters up to $2,500 per hound killed by wolves at or near bait sites, with more than $1.6 million paid out since 1985.
National Geographic has described this system as “state‑sanctioned dogfighting,” a characterization GLWA argues was entirely absent from the CBS feature.
Pattern of Misconduct in Hunting Media
GLWA’s letter further notes that the hunting media industry has a documented pattern of high‑profile poaching and wildlife crime cases involving television and online personalities. Despite this history, the CBS segment did not address the industry’s record or disclose any due diligence regarding Mr. Newcomb’s background or published views.
What GLWA Is Asking of CBS Sunday Morning
In its formal correspondence, Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance requests that CBS Sunday Morning:
- Issue a formal correction acknowledging factual inaccuracies and omissions in the February 1 segment.
- Produce a follow‑up counter‑segment—even if online‑only—featuring scientists, tribal leaders, legal experts, and wildlife advocates.
- Engage in a direct conversation with GLWA to review documentation, peer‑reviewed research, and public records related to bear management and wildlife governance.
Selected Resources Cited in GLWA’s Letter
- CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Reports on trichinellosis outbreaks linked to bear meat.
- Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness (2012) on animal sentience.
- Journal of Wildlife Management studies on bear baiting and human–bear conflict.
- Recent analyses from Ontario and British Columbia on the effectiveness of lethal control.
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases on hunting show host convictions.
- Congressional testimony on bear gallbladder trafficking and illegal wildlife trade.
- Southwick Associates (2021) analysis of firearms and ammunition purchases.
- Wisconsin DNR records on hound compensation payments.
- Published statements by Clay Newcomb regarding animal emotions and cognition.
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Help Us Close the Final $460 and Unlock Our $2,000 Match
We moved within hours of the CBS Sunday Morning segment — because this is exactly what we do.
When misinformation hits the national stage, we don’t wait days or weeks.
We respond immediately, publicly, and with evidence.
That rapid‑response capacity is rare in the wildlife world, and it’s only possible because people like you fund it.
This weekend, we have a $2,000 match on the table, and we are
$460 away from unlocking every dollar.
If we meet this match, it will fully cover the rapid‑response work we’ve done in the last 24 hours — including preparing the CBS correction letter, coordinating expert outreach, and stepping into a podcast debate this week to counter the narrative directly.
If you believe in watchdog work that doesn’t blink, doesn’t back down, and doesn’t let misinformation go unanswered,
please help close this final gap.
Your gift today ensures we can keep our eyes open, stay fast on our feet, and respond in real time — something most organizations simply cannot do.
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Website: speakforwildlife.org
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protect and love nature. no killing thru baiting or nay other kind. respect and cherish wildlife.
Thank you! I had been planning to write to CBS as well. It was such an obvious plant, catering to the viewpoint of their new head of CBS and the pro-right propaganda. I’ve never seen anything as long and less balanced from them, particularly when using Ted Koppel as the ‘journalist.’ Any other pieces might have talked about baiting, about problem bears, about other parts of the country, etc. Also, totally hilariously, am I the only one that noticed their overalls were all brand-new?