JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Protestors in Riverside voiced their concerns about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considering proposals for a potential black bear hunt starting later this year.
Alexandria Molina and others joined with the nonprofit One Protest.
The FWC said it has determined that Florida’s bear population can sustain a limited harvest, setting the criteria to establish Bear Harvest Zones.
“The open season for harvesting bears shall begin no earlier than October 1 and end no later than December 31. Season dates will be established annually,” the FWC said.
The commission is also proposing to authorize the hunting of about 187 bears across 31 counties, which are divided into four management areas: North, Eastern Panhandle, Central and South.
A black bear was spotted in St. Johns County earlier in May.
Within the same month, a bear in Collier County killed an 89-year-old man and his dog.
Hunting was first reopened in 2015 after a hiatus, but was suspended after meeting quotas. The protesters label this as a “trophy hunt” and argue that it lacks scientific support.
“I believe that people are unwilling to accept the responsibility that we have to be respectful of the nature around us,” Molina said.
Black bears are the only bear species in Florida, with an estimated population of over 4,000. And they were considered a threatened species from 1974 until 2012.
A meeting to discuss the proposed hunt will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m. at the College of Central Florida. The FWC is also accepting advance comments on the proposal, which can be submitted online or by mail.
“The ultimate message is that if you’re a person who believes in creation and consciousness, thou shall not kill. There are no asterisks,” Molina said.
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