Florida's Black Bears in Hunters' Sights Starting Saturday
Posted Oct. 22, 2015 06:55 am | Op-Ed
Photo:
Florida Forrest Service
Thousands of trophy hunters will descend on Florida’s wilderness to kill an estimated 320 Florida black bears, a unique subspecies of the American black bear that’s found nowhere else on Earth. The state is holding this hunt starting Saturday despite most Floridians’ opposition to it. Nearly 3,000 hunting permits have been sold.
Kate MacFall, Florida state director for The Humane Society of the United States issued this statement:
"This is a sad day for Florida's black bears. This
weekend, trophy hunters will take to the woods to kill
our bears for rugs and taxidermied trophies.
This hunt is completely unnecessary and it's not
supported by science or by public sentiment. Research
overwhelmingly shows that hunting bears in the woods
doesn't reduce problems with bears in neighborhoods. The
state would be better off helping citizens manage trash
and outdoor food sources.
Unfortunately for bears, most of Florida's wildlife
commissioners failed to listen to the overwhelming
majority of Floridians who publicly opposed the hunt."
The Florida black bear was on the state’s threatened species list just three years ago, and the species continues to face serious threats from road mortality, habitat loss and documented genetic isolation from other bear sub-populations.
Related:
Proposed Florida Bear Hunt Not Scientific or Humane
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission set the quota of 320 bears despite the fact that a complete bear population study won’t be available until 2016.
Kate MacFall is Florida state director for The Humane Society of the United States.
This piece was reprinted by the Columbia County Observer with permission or license.
Graphic: Added by the Observer