Help Save Florida's Black Bears

In August 2025, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made the despicable decision to reopen black bear hunting in the state, despite Florida’s own data showing that protecting bears and restoring their habitats is the most effective way to maintain a healthy population.

The Commission’s vote to reinstate the hunt—when the overwhelming majority of public comments opposed it—makes it clear that the people charged with safeguarding Florida’s wildlife are more concerned with appeasing trophy hunters than upholding their mission of responsible, evidence-based management.

Since the decision was announced, Florida residents have taken to social media to share their love for these gentle animals, who are sometimes spotted in rural areas: mothers leading their cubs quietly through the woods, shy bears scurrying away at the sight of people, or a curious youngster sneaking a pumpkin off a porch in the fall. These rare encounters bring joy to communities and show that black bears are widely seen as a positive presence in the state—not as a threat that requires lethal management strategies.

Bear hunting in Florida has been banned since 2015, when over 300 bears were killed in just two days. Now, if this hunt moves forward, bears will once again be subjected to brutal practices such as baiting, being chased down by packs of dogs, and being shot with bows and arrows.

This is cruelty, not conservation. We must do everything in our power to protect bears from this renewed threat of extreme violence.

Please join Species Unite in calling on Governor Ron DeSantis to shut down Florida’s bear hunt by signing the attached letter.

You can also take your support a step further by entering Florida’s bear hunting permit lottery—keeping those permits out of the hands of would-be killers.

The FWC approved the slaughter of up to 187 bears this year. However, you do not need to be a resident of Florida or even the USA to enter the lottery.

How to enter the bear tag lottery:

  1. Buy a Florida hunting license for $17 (FREE if you are 65+) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or your local tax collector’s office.

  2. Create or log into your Go Outdoors Florida account.

  3. Select Recreational Licenses & Permits.

  4. Select Click Here to Get a License!.

  5. Under Shop by License Category, select Hunting.

  6. Select Type 165, Hunting – 1 Year ($17.00).

  7. Check the box to defer the certification requirement.

  8. Add to cart and check out.

  9. Wait for FWC to announce the lottery dates/details.

  10. Enter as many times as you want for $5 per application.

Although anyone can apply, most permits will be reserved for Florida residents, so please make sure to share this information with everyone you can in the Sunshine State.

Together, we can stop this cruelty and ensure Florida’s black bears are protected, not persecuted.