Conservationists sue to stop Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade

Conservationists filed a lawsuit in circuit court in Tallahassee on Wednesday to block Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade, arguing the December schedule is unconstitutional and runs counter to the state policy aimed at protecting native species. The action comes as state wildlife officials have slated a December hunt in response to a growing bear population and more frequent encounters between people and bears across the state.

Bear Warriors United filed the complaint against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which voted unanimously last month to authorize the hunt. The plan calls for hunting bears at baited locations and using dogs as part of the effort, a method that drew renewed criticism from conservation groups and residents who fear unnecessary harm to wildlife. State officials say the bear population has recovered significantly and that wildlife managers need to keep population levels in balance with available habitat, noting increases in activities such as rummaging through trash and livestock losses attributed to bears. Commission Chair Rodney Barreto stressed at the time that decisions are made based on science.

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FWC officials declined to comment on the pending litigation. The conservation group had previously filed a similar complaint in an administrative court, but withdrew it after attorneys for the agency argued that the matter was not subject to an administrative ruling. The current lawsuit broadens the challenge by targeting the legality of the hunt itself rather than the administrative process.

Florida hosts an estimated bear population of about 4,000, a figure cited by agency officials to support the need for ongoing management as the state continues to grow. Florida is one of the few states with a sizable black bear population that historically has not held an annual bear hunting season, though this year’s plan represents a departure from that norm. The proposed approach is described as more restrictive than a 2015 effort, when hunting permits were widely available to anyone who could pay. That earlier event ended days early after more than 300 bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, underscoring the stakes and the potential wildlife and ecological impacts of the hunt.

Opponents contend the tactic is cruel and unnecessary, arguing that the real issue lies in human development encroaching on bear habitat as Florida continues to add residents and infrastructure. They say a focus on habitat protection and nonlethal management would better serve both people and bears in the long run. Proponents of the hunt emphasize the need to reduce bear-human conflicts and to maintain a sustainable balance as the bear population grows alongside the state’s expanding population.

If the court determines the hunt violates constitutional or state policy standards, the December season could be delayed or halted, at least pending a more thorough review. Lawyers for Bear Warriors United have urged the court to halt any hunting activity until the case is resolved, while agency attorneys may push for allowances to proceed under established wildlife-management criteria. The dispute highlights an ongoing tension between wildlife protection policies and modern wildlife management under conditions of rapid population growth and changing land use across Florida.