Governor DeSantis Should Block Florida’s Proposal For Poorly Managed Black Bear Hunt  – JP

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Guest post by Christian Josi and Kelvey Vander Hart

Florida is one of the most biodiverse states in the country—known for its manatees and alligators, the state is also home to a thriving black bear population. However, a proposed hunt could destroy hundreds of these bears through pure mismanagement, a blow to animal welfare, good hunting practices, and the stability of Florida’s black bear population. For these reasons, Governor DeSantis should consider blocking the hunt. 

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved rules for the proposed hunt, which would take place in December and allow 187 bears to be killed. FWC commissioners voted to move the hunt forward, with a final vote set for August. The rules would allow the use of bear baiting and dogs in hunting the bears and would eliminate many of the check-ins and restrictions included in Florida’s 2015 bear hunt. 

The lack of hunter check-ins included in this year’s proposed hunting rules is a significant issue. In 2015, the hunt had to be shut down after nearly 300 bears were killed in just two days, and that figure was verified through state-run check-in stations. Instead of including those stations in the plan for this year’s hunt, the rules would require hunters to self-verify details of the bears they kill to the state within 24 hours. While bear corpses would be subject to inspection, the guidelines around where that would happen and what would trigger inspection are hazy. Without public oversight, there’s no accountability to ensure that the taken bears are within the allowed age and weight ranges. Based on the speed at which bears were killed in 2015, the 24-hour rule could mean that far more bears than planned are killed while the state tallies figures from self-verifications. 

The allowed hunting tactics are also concerning. Hunting dogs used to chase bears are often injured or killed in the process. Bears injured by hunting dogs may escape being killed, leading to more suffering. The use of hunting dogs in bear hunts is detrimental to both the dogs and the bears. 

However, bear baiting is an even greater concern. Bait stations lay out food to draw in bears, and when used in hunting, set up a situation where unsuspecting animals are killed without warning while they eat. This tactic increases the odds of attracting and killing mothers and young bears. It is also unsportsmanlike and unethical, as no element of ‘fair chase’ allows the animal a chance to get away. Bait stations may even pose a risk to public safety—research published by the National Park Service shows that bait stations can condition bears to associate humans with food, thereby increasing the risk by motivating bears to come into contact with humans. 

There are legitimate reasons for hunting in Florida, such as managing the numbers of invasive or abundant species. Real hunters are sportsmanlike, respect wildlife, and strive to use ethical hunting practices while limiting the suffering of animals. The 2015 hunt saw many bears outside the allowed parameters killed, including nursing mothers and tiny bears that may have been cubs. Unlicensed hunters also joined the hunt illegally. With even less oversight included in the proposal for this year’s hunt, outcomes like this could be even more prominent. Unethical and/or unscrupulous hunters give all hunters a bad name, something that should concern sportsmen in Florida. 

Black bears also pose no threat to public safety in Florida. There has only been one documented case of a black bear killing someone in Florida, and the North American Bear Center asserts that you are more at risk of being killed by a domestic dog, bee sting, or lightning. A law passed in 2024 allows for black bears to be killed out of self-defense if people think they are in a life-threatening situation. With nearly 1.5 million acres of wilderness throughout the state and estimates placing the black bear population at around 4,000 individuals, Florida is not being overrun or facing an out-of-control predator problem. 

The 2015 hunt had rules that offered greater public oversight, yet still saw hundreds of bears slaughtered over just two days. It was a public relations nightmare for Florida and a glaring example of poor wildlife management. With far less public oversight, this year’s hunt is poised to be just as much of a bloodbath. If Governor DeSantis wants to avoid repeating the 2015 disaster, he will direct FWC commissioners to abandon the proposed hunt. 

Christian Josi, a newly-minted Floridian, is a veteran political and communications strategist and frequent columnist. Kelvey Vander Hart is a senior fellow at The Wilberforce Institute.