SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Florida opened its first bear hunting season in more than a decade today, marking the start of 23 days aimed at managing the state’s growing black bear population.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the hunt just a couple of months ago. FWC officials said the hunt is designed to help manage a growing bear population.
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Wildlife officials estimate more than 4,000 black bears now live in Florida. A constitutional amendment approved last year makes hunting Florida’s preferred wildlife management method.
More information is available at www.fwc.gov.
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