As SWFL continues to see bear encounters, wildlife officials now considering a hunt

An unbearable situation: Black bears are roaming through Southwest Florida and even fighting in driveways. People have called on state wildlife managers to do something about it, and officials are proposing a black bear hunt.

Allowing the hunt of black bears in Florida came up during Tuesday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife conversation commission meeting in Jacksonville. But Julie Wraithmell with Audubon Florida told WINK News that she disagrees.

“We were not in support of the bear hunt when it was proposed last time and just don’t think that it’s the right fit for Florida now,” Wraithmell said.

Regulated bear hunting in Florida started in the 1930s and went on until 1993. FWC then re-opened bear hunting in 2015 after a three-to-two vote, but the season has been closed since then.

“In reality, bears are a part of Florida. And there’s something that communities are proud of, and people get excited to see,” Wraithmell said.

Bear sightings are typical in Florida, depending on where you live. But Wraithmell said the bears deep in the wilderness are not the same bears that are out in your neighborhood.

“They are also an icon for protecting the places that we depend upon. They need large areas that are not just places for Floridians to recreate, but they recharge our water supply, they sequester carbon. They absorb floodwaters, they protect us from wildfires in times of drought. So, you know, the places that these bears use are also important to our well-being and our own prosperity,” Wraithmell said.

FWC staff said a bear management update will be on the agenda soon. This will give commissioners and the public more time to discuss the possible hunt.

Click here for more information about black bears.

Click here to watch the Tuesday FWC meeting.