The Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) commissioners have voted to hunt WITHOUT a known population of Florida Black Bears. The bear count is due in later 2016, with no science whatsoever to hunt our bears, this is the first time in 21 years there is a trophy hunt with over 1900 permits sold to kill 320 bears to "manage the black bear population". They have no limit on killing bears for 48 hours
The public presented to FWC, At least one commissioner should have recused themselves for conflict of financial interest and ignored.
75% of Floridians do not want our iconic Florida Black bears hunted.
FWC on its own account has a 95% success rate in using bear proof garbage cans to deter nuisance bears. There is also a one and done policy that has euthanized 70 bears to date this year.
The FWC has identified 320 bears to be hunted in four regions, they have sold over 1900 permits, with a 2 day hunt guarantee. We have already seen postings on a ranch belonging to one commissioner, blogs of hunters saying they will hunt many bears and not report/tag them.
Governor Scott we elected you to office, and we are holding you accountable for the appointed commissioners decision, we do not want this hunt, the FWC has heard this from the public but is not accountable to the voters, you are. PLEASE cancel this hunt.
Just three years ago, the Florida black bears were delisted from Federal protection, not because their populations had grown but in fact because the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) had good protections in place to ensure their recovery. Once delisted, those protections ignored and abused by the commissioners appointed by Governor Scott.
