FLORIDA — A judge will hear arguments about Florida’s bear hunt on Monday. The conservation group, Bear Warriors United, filed an injunction on top of a recently filed lawsuit.
They want to stop the hunt until further studies can be completed about bear populations in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) website says the state’s bear population is upwards of 4,500 and says there is an increase in encounters with people.
They also say the hunt prevents road deaths and malnutrition.
Since 2006, there have been 42 documented incidents of bear and human contact in Florida. That means bears physically touching someone, not just a sighting or close encounter.
There has only been one confirmed fatal attack in the state’s history.
FWC issued permits in four bear hunting zones for December.