Bear hunt backlash: Florida revives debate over black bear population control
As bear encounters rise, FWC weighs bringing back controversial hunt—sparking fierce opposition and support.
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Updated: 5:14 PM EDT Mar 13, 2025
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>> IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST HEATED CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN HUNTERS AND CONSERVATIONISTS. SHOULD FLORIDA HOLD A BEAR HUNT NEW AT 6 RYAN? OUR BIGGEST IS IN COLLIER COUNTY WHERE FWC IS TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S POSSIBLE YOU MAY SOON SEE MORE OF THESE. SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM RUGS AND OTHER PEOPLE CALL THEM TROPHIES. THAT'S BECAUSE FWC IS THINKING ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE BEAR HUNT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS. SKINS AND SCALES IN EAST NAPLES. WE HAVE SEVERAL THEY'RE BROUGHT IN EARLIER ON THIS. LIFELONG FLORIDIAN KNOWS A THING OR 2 ABOUT HUNTING FOR SPORT. ALL LIFE HUNTING 5 >> ONE OF LEGAL TELL ME I CAN. >> I OWNER FLOWERS IS IN SUPPORT OF THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION REINSTATING A REGULATED HUNT ON FLORIDA. BLACK BEARS A HOT TOPIC TO BE DISCUSSED IN A PUBLIC FORUM TO FOLLOW THE OUT THERE AND CAME AROUND. WOULD PROBABLY THE LAST TIME YOU COULD KILL THESE ANIMALS LEGALLY WAS IN 2015, THE POPULATION WAS AROUND 3,000 AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT CITED THE HIGH NUMBERS OF HUMAN-BEAR INTERACTIONS, VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AND 4 ATTACKS IN 2 YEARS WHEN HE'S ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SPORTS LARGE-SCALE PROTESTS ACROSS FLORIDA, MANY OF WHICH ADAM SOCAL SKI ORGANIZED HIMSELF. WE STAGE A PROTEST WAS GREAT, SAYS 28 CITIES AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME THOSE CAMPAIGNS AND PUT UP EVEN FURTHER AFTER WIDESPREAD RUMORS OVER HUNTER'S BREAKING THE RULES, DESPITE THE FACT THAT DURING THE EVENT FWC ONLY ISSUED ONE TICKET AND NO ARRESTS, THERE WERE REPORTS OF >> INFRACTIONS, THINGS LIKE MOMS WITH THE CUBS. UNDERWEIGHT BEARS BEARS TAKEN OVER. BATE ENVIRONMENTALISTS BELIEVE TAKING CARE OF YOUR TRASH FUNDING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND OVERRULE CONSERVATION OR THE BLOODLESS SOLUTIONS. THE HUNT IS BEING CALLED FOR. IT REALLY DOES DISTRACT FROM SOME. WE'RE GREATER ISSUES. THE HUNT MOST LIKELY TO BE DECIDED ON AT THE NEXT FWC COMMISSION MEETING IN MAY, IF APPROVED IN THE RULES OF THE SAME, YOU COULD ONLY HUNT IN CERTAIN REMOTE AREAS WITH A PERMIT. YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT. DON'T DO IT. >> IF YOU DON'T LIKE MEAT, DON'T EAT BUT DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T HAVE A STAKE RIGHT. THE MEETING IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU CAN JOIN VIRTUALLY BY GOING ON THE FWC WEBSITE TO LET LOCAL LEADERS KNOW IF YOU SUPPORT THIS PROJECT OR YOU REPORTING
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Bear hunt backlash: Florida revives debate over black bear population control
As bear encounters rise, FWC weighs bringing back controversial hunt—sparking fierce opposition and support.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. to gather input on the possibility of reinstating a regulated black bear hunt in Florida.The 2015 Bear Hunt and ControversyFlorida’s black bear population has been steadily increasing since hunting was halted in 1994 due to low numbers, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC). The species was listed as state-threatened until 2012, but by 2015, the population was estimated between 3,000 and 3,500. This growth led to increased human-bear conflicts, with FWC receiving approximately 6,000 bear-related calls annually. While bear attacks remain rare, about 300 bears are killed each year by vehicles.FWC last allowed bear hunting in 2015, implementing a controlled hunt to address population growth and conflicts. Originally planned for a week, the hunt was cut short after two days when hunters killed 304 bears, nearing the statewide quota of 320.Controversy followed, with concerns over rule violations. While some reports suggested infractions—including the killing of underweight bears, baiting animals, and mothers with cubs—FWC issued only one ticket and one warning.The Renewed Push for a HuntAt a December 2024 meeting, FWC commissioners stated that bear populations are now "large and healthy enough to sustain a hunt." However, the agency’s ongoing population study, expected to conclude in 2029, has not yet provided final data. “When there’s too many of something, would you rather have it get hit on the highway and rot in a ditch, or allow somebody to shoot some, get the meat and skin and do something with it? ... If you don’t like hunting, fine. Don’t hunt. But if it’s legal, don’t tell me I can’t, because I will,” said Bucky Flowers, the Owner of Skins & Scales Taxidermy in East Naples.Opponents argue that hunting distracts from addressing the root causes of human-bear conflicts, such as habitat destruction and unsecured trash. "One of the things that they spoke about was human-bear conflicts. When there’s a human source of food, it attracts the bears. Sometimes that causes conflict between bears and humans," said Amber Crooks of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “The staff who could be working on things like protecting wildlife corridors, addressing development in bear habitat, and really getting to the heart of the issues of conflict—bears in trash that is unsecured," Crooks added. “I thought they were trying to solve a bear problem when there wasn’t one. Hunters just really wanted to kill some bears ... The bear’s life is worth way more than you winning a trophy," said Adam Sugalski of the advocacy group OneProtest, which organized many protests during the 2015 hunt.The FWC meeting will allow public input on potential management options. No decision is expected immediately, but most likely will occur during the next FWC meeting in May. For more information, visit FWC’s website.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. to gather input on the possibility of reinstating a regulated black bear hunt in Florida.
The 2015 Bear Hunt and Controversy
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Florida’s black bear population has been steadily increasing since hunting was halted in 1994 due to low numbers, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC). The species was listed as state-threatened until 2012, but by 2015, the population was estimated between 3,000 and 3,500. This growth led to increased human-bear conflicts, with FWC receiving approximately 6,000 bear-related calls annually. While bear attacks remain rare, about 300 bears are killed each year by vehicles.
FWC last allowed bear hunting in 2015, implementing a controlled hunt to address population growth and conflicts. Originally planned for a week, the hunt was cut short after two days when hunters killed 304 bears, nearing the statewide quota of 320.
Controversy followed, with concerns over rule violations. While some reports suggested infractions—including the killing of underweight bears, baiting animals, and mothers with cubs—FWC issued only one ticket and one warning.
The Renewed Push for a Hunt
At a December 2024 meeting, FWC commissioners stated that bear populations are now "large and healthy enough to sustain a hunt." However, the agency’s ongoing population study, expected to conclude in 2029, has not yet provided final data.
“When there’s too many of something, would you rather have it get hit on the highway and rot in a ditch, or allow somebody to shoot some, get the meat and skin and do something with it? ... If you don’t like hunting, fine. Don’t hunt. But if it’s legal, don’t tell me I can’t, because I will,” said Bucky Flowers, the Owner of Skins & Scales Taxidermy in East Naples.
Opponents argue that hunting distracts from addressing the root causes of human-bear conflicts, such as habitat destruction and unsecured trash.
"One of the things that they spoke about was human-bear conflicts. When there’s a human source of food, it attracts the bears. Sometimes that causes conflict between bears and humans," said Amber Crooks of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “The staff who could be working on things like protecting wildlife corridors, addressing development in bear habitat, and really getting to the heart of the issues of conflict—bears in trash that is unsecured," Crooks added.
The FWC meeting will allow public input on potential management options. No decision is expected immediately, but most likely will occur during the next FWC meeting in May.
