In December, Florida will hold its first black bear hunt in a decade, following the unanimous approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Despite objections citing cruelty and habitat concerns due to human encroachment, officials emphasize the need to manage growing bear populations estimated at 4,000. Stricter regulations for the hunt have been implemented compared to the last one in 2015. Increased bear-human interactions have raised concerns among residents, leading to calls for this management strategy.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana.
Opponents called the hunt cruel, unnecessary and an excuse for hunters to bag a trophy animal when the real issue is the encroaching human population in bear habitat as Florida continues to grow.
The plan adopted Wednesday has more stringent rules than the previous Florida hunt in 2015, including restrictions on the use of dogs and bait.
The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continues to rise, causing concern among residents who see bears as threats and pests.
Collection
[
|
...
]