Florida Bear Hunters Out Of Luck In 2016

Florida hunters hoping to take aim at black bears this fall are out of luck. The state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has decided to put a permitted hunt on hold until 2017 at least.

The decision from the seven-member board came late Wednesday night following much public outcry over last year’s hunt during which more than 300 bears were killed.

“Although hunting has been demonstrated to be a valuable tool to control bear populations across the country, it is just one part of FWC’s comprehensive bear management program,” Nick Wiley, FWC’s executive director said. “I am proud of our staff who used the latest, cutting-edge, peer-reviewed science to develop a recommendation for our Commissioners to consider.”

Just because a bear hunt won’t be staged in 2016, doesn't mean the need has gone away for FWC to work with Floridians, local governments and the scientific community to balance the needs of people against those of the state’s increasing bear population, Wiley added.

“FWC (will) also continue to work with local communities and the public to advance innovative ways to reduce human-bear conflicts with the understanding that a bear hunt in 2017 could be considered as an important conservation activity to control Florida’s growing bear population,” FWC said in a statement. “This would allow time for staff and Commissioners to address conflict bear population data to ensure any future hunts are focused where needed.”

See also:

• Tampa Police ‘Standoff’ With Black Bear Ends Peacefully
• Black Bear Hunts: Hillsborough County Takes A Stand

At present, the state estimates its black bear population at 4,350. The rebound of the black bear population is one of “Florida’s conservation success stories,” FWC notes on its website.

That success story, however, has given rise to a number of human and bear encounters, not all of them pleasant, the state contends. In hopes of culling the population, FWC announced the development of a comprehensive bear management program and the return of a limited permit bear hunt in 2015.

Aside from the controversial hunt, FWC said the program has made these accomplishments over the course of the past year:

• The hiring of 30 additional staff members to focus on bear management
• Responding to more than 21,000 bear-related calls, promoting more than 700 site visits
• Offering outreach and educational information to more than 50,000 people
• The creation of Bear Stakeholders Groups to obtain feedback and assistance in managing the state’s bear population
• Training more than 1,600 local responders from 68 agencies on how to best handle bear-related conflicts
• Worked with the state Legislature to increase penalties for those caught illegally feeding bears
• Worked to protect more than 185,000 acres of bear habitat across the state

The FWC decision to suspend this year’s bear hunt came on the heels of a Hillsborough County Commission vote opposing sanctioned hunts. While Hillsborough isn’t considered a black bear habitat, the county does get an occasional black bear visitor. That fact was evidenced earlier this week when a 6-foot critter showed up in a north Tampa neighborhood.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission