Across the nation, bears and cubs are killed by poachers who take only their gallbladders, and sometimes their paws, leaving the rest of the bear behind. The gallbladders fetch a high price due to their use in traditional Chinese medicine. The trade is heavily centralized in China and South Korea, where bears are farmed for their bile in what amounts to a horror show — bears being kept in small cages for years with a tube inserted directly into their gallbladder to obtain bile until the bear eventually dies from infection and agony. As Asian Bear populations have dwindled, now American bears are being targeted.

Shockingly, the Chinese government has included injections containing bear bile on a list of recommended treatments for COVID-19, giving false hope to those suffering from the virus and perpetuating this unnecessary cruelty.

The Bear Protection Act would end bear poaching by prohibiting the importing and exporting of bear viscera (gallbladders) as well as their sale, barter, purchase, possession, transport, delivery or receipt. Lawful hunting will not be impacted. This legislation is needed to stop poaching of American bears and stop contributing to this cruelty globally.

Send an email to your legislators by filling out the form below. When you're finished, don't forget to follow up with a phone call! Call (202) 224-3121. This is the Capitol Switchboard — just give your zip code and ask to be transferred to your Representative and Senators. When the staffer answers the phone, you can say, "Hi, I'm a constituent, and I'm calling to ask that you please cosponsor the Bear Protection Act."

Take action now to tell your legislators you want bears protected from this horrible practice.

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