Florida Plans Controversial December Bear Hunt Amid Legal Challenges

Florida is preparing for its first black bear hunt in a decade, with a December event that has sparked significant controversy and legal challenges. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) initially approved a quota allowing hunters to kill up to 187 bears, but recently reduced this number to 172 due to concerns over other bear mortality factors, especially in the northern hunting zone. Conservation groups such as Bear Warriors United have filed lawsuits arguing that the hunt violates the state’s bear management plan and relies on outdated population data, claiming it will cause irreparable harm to the species. Opponents also criticize the hunt as unnecessary and cruel, emphasizing human encroachment on bear habitats rather than population control as the root issue. Meanwhile, FWC officials defend the hunt as a scientifically based management tool to mitigate increased human-bear conflicts, including property damage and livestock injuries. The legal battle continues as the hunt approaches, reflecting deep divisions over wildlife management strategies in Florida.