Key Hearing Could Decide Future of Florida’s Black Bears
Advocates in Florida are continuing to do everything in their power to protect the state’s beloved black bear population from the upcoming December hunt, including asking a judge for an injunction to stop the planned killing.
The group Bear Warriors United filed a lawsuit in September to prevent the hunt, arguing that it was approved without following sound research, science, and management techniques. The injunction request is part of the ongoing legal case to stop the hunt, with the motion reading in part: “The FWC's (Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's) hunt, if it is allowed to go forward, will result in the needless destruction of Florida black bears.” The case will be heard by Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey on Monday, November 24. Judge Dempsey noted in a scheduling order that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will seek dismissal of the lawsuit, and she approved a request by Safari Club International to weigh in on the case in defense of the hunt.
Lawyers for Bear Warriors United argued in the injunction motion that the hunt was planned “based on obsolete data and assumptions, even though updated data is becoming available,” and “The result, the Bear Warriors will show, is that bear hunts are being allowed in areas where the bear population is declining or has declining stability.”
The movement to stop the upcoming bear slaughter has been growing steadily since the state announced plans for the first hunt of these iconic animals in a decade. After successfully claiming a large number of tags in the state’s bear hunting lottery, anti-hunt advocates have continued to draw attention to the issue, with protestors rallying at the Capitol in Tallahassee this week to voice their opposition. Restarting the black bear hunt is wildly unpopular in Florida, and residents fear they could follow in the footsteps of nearby states like South Carolina, where record numbers of black bears have been killed since hunting restrictions were loosened, and North Carolina, where thousands of bears are killed each year at a rate many worry is not sustainable for the long-term survival of the species.
Bear advocates are hopeful that the injunction will halt the hunt before it begins, ensuring that Florida’s bears are spared from needless killing and given a chance to recover and thrive.
You can help prevent this hunt by contacting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis using the form below and urging him to cancel it if the injunction doesn’t hold. We must keep the pressure on so Florida’s leaders understand that this hunt is not what the public wants.