STATE BY STATE

Florida

Currently, No Bear Hunts Planned

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Despite strong opposition, in 2015, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a reckless trophy hunt of Florida’s Black Bears to appease special interest groups whose members numbers represent only a small minority of Floridians. It was the first time in 20 years Florida Black Bears were allowed to be hunted after they were nearly wiped out due to out-of-control hunting and poaching. The 2015 trophy hunt backfired on the FWC. The world watched as black bears were killed at an alarming rate. The death toll rose so fast that the hunt, which was scheduled to last for seven days, was ended in just 48 hours. This gross mismanagement of Florida’s wildlife shook the state of Florida and forever changed the impression and trust people had of the FWC.

Over 90% of Floridians were documented as opposing this hunt, and people from all over the world, including many hunters and conservationists, came together to save bears and stop this proposed annual trophy hunt.

In 2016, the Florida Black Bear hunt was voted down due to the overwhelming public outcry against the barbaric and unnecessary hunt, and now the 2017 and 2018 have been halted as well. Floridians will never accept a bear hunt in their state.