This is your last chance to voice your opinion on a proposal made by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The proposal

by 25 percent over the next five years.

After getting a number of complaints from concerned citizens, the agency is attempting to bring numbers down by changing hunting regulations.

But the Wildlife Center of Virginia is urging people to speak up and stop this from happening.

Ed Clark, president of the WCV, said it's taken decades to get the bear population back up and killing them won't be a guaranteed fix for the problems folks are having.

"Many times, we find where there is a human-wildlife conflict, it's actually human behavior, not animal behavior that has precipitated the interaction," said Clark. "People leaving out bird feeders, the bear comes and eats your bird feeder's contents and you put it right back up again."

Clark said education will do a better job of reducing conflict and damage caused by a nuisance animal.

"Common sense works in the wild too. If bears are getting into your trash, take it in at night," said Clark.

"If you select a natural area, a rural area, a beautiful place to live, you have to live with the other creatures that already live there or that are moving there as well," he said to WHSV

. "You don't get to say, I want this animal in my yard, but I don't want that animal in my yard."

Clark said there's not a set number of comments needed to oppose this proposal — just enough public feedback for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to reconsider its options.

To learn more from the VDGIF about their proposal,

. For more on the Wildlife Center's take on the situation,

.

You have until May 10 to voice your thoughts to the VDGIF.

You can submit a comment

.