Progress! Anti-Hunters Reportedly Secured 23% of Florida’s Black Bear Tags

In a promising development for Florida’s black bears, many of the state’s 172 recently distributed black bear hunting permits have been claimed by compassionate anti-hunters determined to protect bears rather than kill them.  According to Steve Rosen, director of the Florida-based anti-hunting group Angels in Distress, at least 39 tags were secured by animal protectors, and the number could be even higher, as other tags were likely obtained by advocates not directly connected to his organization.

Rosen and his group offered to pay for Florida hunting licenses and entry fees, reportedly spending over $200,000 to purchase more than 40,000 tickets for the Florida Bear Lottery. There were a total of 163,459 entries overall, meaning Angels in Distress accounted for about 24% of the entries and roughly 23% of the awarded tags. This is a huge victory for one local organization and an incredibly positive sign that the efforts of other national groups, including Species Unite and the Sierra Club, who brought public attention to the lottery, likely helped additional animal advocates secure bear tags as well.

Thanks to compassionate individuals who used their time and resources to enter the lottery, at least 39 bears’ lives will be saved this winter. Unfortunately, the hunt, which would be the first in Florida in a decade, is still set to take place from December 6th to the 28th. Species Unite will continue to pressure Governor Ron DeSantis to cancel it altogether, building on the success of animal activists in acquiring so many tags.

Although this is a major win, we must keep the pressure on to end this cruel and unnecessary hunt outright. Please use the link below to send a message to Florida’s governor opposing the hunt, and share our campaign with your friends and family to encourage them to do the same. Together, we can help ensure all of Florida’s black bears are spared this December.