Stop the reopening of the Florida bear hunt!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be taking a final vote on their proposed hunt of Florida’s black bears at their Aug. 13-14 meeting. Join us in taking a stand for wildlife and show the Commission black bears deserve protection, not exploitation. 

The proposal includes cruel hunting methods like using hounds to chase and bait to lure bears. Floridians overwhelmingly oppose these practices—81% oppose bear hunting altogether, with even higher percentages rejecting inhumane methods like hounding (89%) and baiting (86%). During the last hunt of black bears in Florida, hunters killed many nursing mothers whose cubs were left to suffer. We cannot allow the FWC to support such cruelty. 

This time, the consequences could be even worse. Hounding and baiting would make the hunt even more reckless, and hunters will have the ability to use bows and arrows to kill bears—adding to the chaos and suffering. Furthermore, the proposal under consideration grants the FWC’s executive director sole, ongoing authority to set bear hunting quotas—bypassing both the Commission and any opportunity for public input—ending public accountability and opening the door to politically motivated decisions that don’t reflect science or public values.  

TAKE ACTION   
Sign the petition to show the Commission that Florida’s bears deserve protection. By adding your name, you’ll help send a powerful message to the FWC to reject the bear hunt and prevent these cruel methods from being allowed. Together, we can protect Florida’s wildlife and ensure the future of our bears. 

ADD YOUR NAME: 

As an American who deeply values our wildlife, I am asking you to reject the proposed reopening of the Florida bear hunt. This proposal would allow inhumane hunting practices, such as hounding and baiting, both of which are overwhelmingly opposed by Floridians. Recent polling shows that 81% of Floridians oppose bear hunting altogether, and an even greater majority—89% oppose hounding and 86% oppose baiting. 

The last time a bear hunt was held in Florida, 304 bears were killed in just two days, including many nursing mothers, leaving their cubs orphaned. This time, the situation could be even worse. We cannot allow this to happen again.  

Furthermore, granting the FWC’s executive director sole, ongoing authority to set bear hunting quotas—bypassing both the Commission and any opportunity for public input—strips residents of their right to provide input on important decisions. Protecting our wildlife is a responsibility we all share. 

I respectfully ask that you take the public’s overwhelming opposition into account and vote against the bear hunt proposal and the cruelty involved.