A non-profit conservation group is working to stop bear hunting in Florida before the winter season begins. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has unanimously approved a regulated Black Bear hunting season—its first since 2015—scheduled to start on December 6 and run through December 28. This hunting period will take place across four bear management units statewide, with up to 187 kill permits to be issued via a lottery system. Residents will pay $100 per permit, while non-residents (limited to 10%) will pay $300.
This marks a significant change in policy, following nearly a decade of moratorium and controversy after the 2015 hunt, during which 295 bears were killed in just two days—far more than anticipated. The decision relies on outdated data: the bear population estimates that informed the hunt are from 2014-2015, disregarding more recent data and FWC’s own 2019 Bear Management Plan. The process also violated public rulemaking standards; the agency “failed to materially follow the law” by not presenting scientific methodologies, limiting public input, and lacking transparency.
Bear Warriors United argues that the new rule undermines due process and wildlife conservation. In court filings and public statements, the group claims that Florida’s black bear population, which is around 4,000, faces threats not just from vehicle strikes, poaching, and habitat loss, but also from the premature reintroduction of lethal controls. Attorney Raquel Levy, representing the group, stated, “Conservation does not begin and end with a bullet.” Executive Director Katrina Shadix emphasized the urgency, saying, “Trophy hunting our bears will be the final nail in their coffin.”
Public response has shown clear divisions, with proponents—including some with ecological expertise—arguing that the bear population is stable and that hunting could generate funds for conservation efforts. At a recent FWC meeting, Dr. Mark Barton from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers suggested that hunting could promote sustainable growth. However, public sentiment largely opposes the plan; organized protests have occurred in at least 11 Florida cities, and polls from FWC and Humane World for Animals show opposition at 75%–81%.
Bear Warriors United is asking a judge to invalidate the hunting rule, halt the issuance of hunting permits, and cover attorneys’ fees. This case highlights a broader tension: the challenge of balancing wildlife management with modern expectations for scientific oversight, public input, and constitutional due process.
