“It was inhumane and horribly mismanaged.” –Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, on Florida’s 2015 trophy bear hunt
Florida’s last bear trophy hunt was an unmitigated disaster, yet Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is gearing up for another. The 2015 hunt was widely condemned, and the state was forced to end it early after its quota of 320 bears was nearly met in just two days. In the eastern Panhandle nearly triple the state’s quota of bears for that region were killed.
These numbers don’t even account for the orphaned bear cubs that were left to die without their mothers, or the injured bears abandoned in the forest, or the illegally killed undersized bears that went unreported. Unbelievably, despite this horrific debacle, Gov. DeSantis’ Fish and Wildlife Commission is proposing another black bear hunt.
Gov. DeSantis’ wildlife commission is holding a virtual public meeting this Thursday, and we need to demonstrate overwhelming public opposition to this hunt to commissioners. Prior to the last hunt, the FWC was inundated with 40,000 comments with 75% opposing the hunt. We need even stronger opposition this time.
Florida’s black bears were listed as an imperiled species as recently as 2012. Meanwhile, big developers continue to encroach on their territory. As an “umbrella species,” protecting black bears benefits other species sharing their habitat. We support science-based bear management policies that tackle conservation challenges and ensure long-term stability of Florida’s only bear species. These magnificent creatures need to be protected, not hunted down for sport.
It’s time for Floridians to speak out in a unified voice and make clear to Gov. DeSantis and his wildlife commission that our state’s treasured wildlife, including the iconic black bear, must be protected for future generations.
