Alex was shocked to discover that hunters are permitted to hunt black bears within city limits in Tennessee. Alex and his wife, Doris Jean, relocated from Florida to Tennessee after visiting the Tennessee World's Fair in 1980. The couple fell in love with the Great Smoky Mountains and settled in a mountainside chalet. In 1980 there were 25 chalets. That number has now grown to more than 200.
Poachers hunt black bears for parts that are sold to an underground Asian medicinal market.
Bear bile is used in Asian medicine for over a dozen prescriptions as well as in luxury shampoos. On a national level, Alex is fighting to gain Congressional passage of the Bear Protection Act prohibiting the import and export of products containing bear organs. While previous Congresses have not passed the act, a few technical amendments are being worked out so that the bill can be re-introduced this session. Lee Weiner, a former sociology instructor at Livingston College, influenced Alex to become involved with government affairs. His conviction was overturned on appeal.