Wildlife advocates are sounding the alarm as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prepares to vote this week on a plan to reopen black bear hunting for the first time since 2015—a move critics say defies science, ignores public opinion, and caters to trophy-hunting interests.
The proposal will be decided at the FWC’s August 13th meeting, which starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Florida Public Safety Institute and Conference Center, 85 Academy Drive, Havana, FL 32333. Havana is 17 miles north of Tallahassee.
The commission is proposing to open a bear hunting season for the first time since 2015. That year, more than 300 bears were killed in just two days, sparking outrage. The new plan would allow killing 187 bears using archery and bait stations, and starting next year, hunters could chase bears with packs of trailing hounds. These hounds roam freely, harm non-target wildlife, trespass on private and protected lands, and pose serious animal welfare concerns. Baiting attracts non-target animals, spreads disease, disrupts ecosystems, and increases vehicle collisions. Beginning in 2026, wealthy landowners with 5,000 acres or more could bypass the public lottery system to host private trophy hunts. Conservation groups say this would privatize a public resource, reward political allies, and create a “luxury hunt” market for the well-connected…