Stop Florida From Slaughtering Nursing Bear Mothers

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Florida’s black bears are being targeted again—without science, without oversight, and with full knowledge that cubs could be left to die.

Stop Florida From Slaughtering Nursing Bear Mothers

Florida's black bears were nearly wiped out just decades ago. Habitat loss and unregulated hunting pushed their numbers down to as few as 300 by the 1970s1. Today, after years of protection and recovery efforts, the population has climbed to around 4,000. But that hard-won progress is now under threat.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has advanced a proposal to authorize a new black bear hunt this December. If approved, 187 permits will be issued across 31 counties, each allowing the killing of a bear2. This would be Florida’s first sanctioned bear hunt since 2015—when 304 bears were killed in just two days, including 179 females and dozens of lactating mothers, leaving cubs orphaned in the wild3.

There Is No Scientific Basis for This Hunt

The state’s bear population study isn’t expected to conclude until 20292. Proceeding with a hunt before then ignores the need for reliable, updated data. Without knowing how many bears exist or the full impact of habitat fragmentation, the state cannot responsibly manage the species—let alone open it to lethal removal.

FWC officials argue the hunt is a method to reduce bear-human interactions. But even the agency has acknowledged that hunting doesn’t address the core issue: unsecured garbage and food attractants that draw bears into neighborhoods4. In Seminole County, bear-resistant trash cans reduced conflicts by 95%5. The real solution isn’t killing bears—it’s helping communities coexist with them.

The Threat Isn’t the Bears—It’s Us

Florida’s rapid development is carving up bear habitats. As roads and housing developments expand, bears are pushed closer to people. Over 300 bears are killed by vehicles each year6. That’s not a sign of overpopulation—it’s a symptom of shrinking space and growing pressure on Florida’s ecosystems.

Despite these dangers, the proposed hunt allows hunters to use bait stations and bows—methods that make it easier to kill bears indiscriminately. Officials say new guidelines will prevent the targeting of mother bears and cubs, but similar promises were made in 2015, and the result was a wave of orphaned cubs and dead mothers3.

This Is About Trophies, Not Conservation

A constitutional amendment passed in 2024 now defines hunting and fishing as the "preferred" methods of wildlife management. This political shift is being used to justify the hunt, even though most Floridians oppose it7. It’s not about science—it’s about satisfying a small minority of trophy hunters at the expense of Florida’s iconic wildlife.

The Public Trust Doctrine says wildlife should be protected for all—not just those who want a bear pelt for their wall. The FWC’s job is to safeguard Florida’s natural heritage, not bend to pressure from special interests.

Act Now to Protect Florida’s Bears

If this hunt moves forward, the damage could take generations to undo. Florida’s black bears are slow to reproduce and extremely vulnerable to population shocks. Their survival depends on science, not politics—and on people like you standing up when it matters most.

Tell Florida officials to stop the bear hunt. Sign the petition now.

More on this issue:

  1. Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (18 May 2025), "Sarasota protesters join statewide rallies against Florida black bear hunt."
  2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, (2025), "Florida black bear."
  3. Dino Grandoni, The Washington Post (24 May 2025), "Florida approves black bear hunt despite past carnage."
  4. Kitty Block, Humane World (10 Mar 2025), "A black bear hunt looms in Florida—but there is still time to stop it."
  5. WKRG Staff, WKRG (2023), "Bear-resistant trash cans offered in Northwest Florida."
  6. Kitty Block, Humane World for Animals (10 Mar 2025), "Black bear hunt looms in Florida—but there is still time to stop it."
  7. ClickOrlando Staff, ClickOrlando (21 May 2025), "Florida black bear hunt could be coming in December."

The Petition

To the Governor of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC),

Florida’s black bears were once on the brink of extinction. After decades of effort, their population has slowly recovered—only to now be put at risk again. The FWC is considering a new bear hunt, without current population estimates or a valid conservation need. This decision threatens to reverse years of progress and ignore the overwhelming public opposition to such trophy hunting practices.

A hunt under these conditions is not wildlife management—it is political appeasement. The Public Trust Doctrine holds that wildlife should be managed for the benefit of all, not the desires of a few who seek trophies or refuse to take responsibility for unsecured trash and other bear attractants. The FWC has previously acknowledged that hunting does not reduce bear-human conflict. It simply removes bears from the wild—not from the root of the problem.

Bear families should not be torn apart because of outdated myths or preventable human behavior. Floridians have proven that coexistence is not only possible but effective—communities using bear-resistant trash cans have seen conflicts drop by as much as 95%.

We urge you to cancel the proposed bear hunt. Instead, invest in education, habitat protection, and non-lethal conflict prevention.

These actions will protect a vulnerable species, honor sound science, and ensure a more humane and balanced future for wildlife and people alike.

Sincerely,