State wildlife commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the limited black bear hunt in December.
In December, Florida will hold its first black bear hunt in a decade, igniting fierce debate over wildlife science, public safety and hunting ethics.Why It MattersThe vote marks a turning point in Florida wildlife policy by reintroducing regulated killing of a species that has rebounded from near extinction in the 1970s.
State officials estimated about 4,050 black bears live in Florida, a recovery that wildlife managers said increased the frequency of human-bear encounters and complaints.What To KnowState wildlife commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the limited hunt, citing a need to manage what they say is a growing bear population.Supporters argue the measure will reduce dangerous encounters between bears and people.'The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continues to rise,' Ottice Amison, of the Franklin County Commission, said. 'Right now, too many of our residents see bears as threats and pests.'Critics call it cruel, unnecessary and politically motivated.'Not all the hunters support this hunt. We'd like to see nature in balance,' said Lauren Jorgensen, whose family owns a ranch in rural Suwannee County.The plan includes tighter rules than the chaotic 2015 hunt, which was cut short after more than 300 bears were killed in just two days.When reached for comment on Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission forwarded Newsweek a statement on the approved hunt.What People Are SayingDemocratic State Representative Lindsay Cross of Florida posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: 'Thank you to everyone who made the trip and spoke against this trophy hunt. It's incredibly disheartening to see our government endorse cruel methods of killing native animals instead of fully implementing initiatives that reduce negative human-bear interactions.'Florida State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, on X Wednesday: 'The developer-controlled FL Fish + Wildlife 'Conservation' Commission is moving forward with their Black Bear trophy hunt slaughter OPPOSED by a majority of Floridians. Serious FWC reform is long overdue and needed in order to re-prioritize conservation vs political expediency.'Susan Hargreaves, founder of Animal Hero Kids, in an opinion piece in The Palm Beach Post earlier this month, in part: 'We are the only ones who can help these animals. They cannot call the governor. The animals cannot vote or take a stand, only we can.'Rodney Barreto, FWC chairman, in a statement Wednesday: 'I am proud that Florida is joining the majority of states that manage black bears with regulated hunting.'Barreto added, 'The components of the hunt are conservative and prioritize conservation, with a limited number of permits only being issued in the areas of the state with the largest bear populations.'What Happens NextResidents in bear country and wildlife managers will likely continue wrangling over whether lethal management or expanded nonlethal strategies such as public education, food attractant ordinances and habitat protection will better reduce conflicts.The FWC also concluded in its statement that 'Hunting is an important and effective tool for managing wildlife populations around the world, but it is important to acknowledge that managing bear populations does not manage human-bear conflicts. Conflict prevention and bear management practices will still need to continue.'This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.Update 8/13/25, 6:24 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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