At their August 2025 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is scheduled to decide on a new Florida black bear hunt. Take part in our action alert and consider attending the upcoming meeting in Havana, Florida to provide comment to the FWC Commissioners.
Why Are We Concerned?
In 2015, ten years ago, Florida conducted the first black bear hunt in decades. What resulted was later described as a “black eye” for the state agency, as the number of bears taken exceeded the permitted allowances within two days, and numerous infractions were reported from illegal baiting to taking cubs and lactating mothers despite being expressly prohibited.
Now, the FWC is once again looking at allowing a hunt when vital conservation questions have been unanswered. What’s more, the agency is proposing to loosen rules that would allow legal baiting, expanded hunting methods previously not allowed, including hunting with dogs. The agency also proposes a private lands hunting program that would promise these owners special access to bear hunt tags. Instead of moving cautiously, the FWC is currently advancing a hunt framework that includes additional controversial measures.
What’s more, if the rules are approved as proposed, the public may not have future opportunities to address the hunt before the decision makers. Instead of an open agenda item for public comment and review, the FWC’s Executive Director can set harvest objective numbers and other hunt specifics independently.
Further, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s major concerns with the renewed Florida black bear hunt have not been addressed:
- Why not wait until the current studies being conducted by the agency are complete? These would give us the best data to understand bear population numbers, growth trends, and demographics. Without updated information, there is a risk of potential overharvest, particularly as the agency is simultaneously eliminating the public input process for future hunt seasons.
- How would the recovery of the imperiled Glades-Highlands bear subpopulation, which is dwindling to less than 100 bears, be impacted by hunting just a few miles away from where this subpopulation lives?
- How will the agency be able to tackle the hunt in the face of more pressing issues, such as bear-human conflicts fueled by trash and other attractants?
The Conservancy will continue to advocate for our Florida black bears, particularly in light of the Glades-Highlands subpopulation, which is currently at risk for local extinction within the Fisheating Creek and Lake Wales ecosystem. Read more about our work here: conservancy.org/bears.
What Can You Do?
The FWC Commissioners are anticipated to make a final decision at their next meeting held on August 13-14, 2025 in Havana, Florida.
- Take action by signing our action alert!
- Attend the hearing in person in Havana, Florida: Florida Public Safety Institute, Conference Center Building, 85 Academy Dr. Havana, FL 32333
Sierra Club Florida Chapter is offering free charter buses that depart from Tampa Bay, Daytona/Jacksonville, and Orlando/Gainesville. Find out more here.
FWC will post the agenda for the meeting soon, providing more information about when the bear item will be heard here.
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