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Stop Florida From Slaughtering Nursing Bear Mothers
Final signature count: 3,214
3,214 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
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.
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.
