Lawsuit filed against FWC after black bear hunt approval in Florida

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — There’s a new effort to stop Florida’s black bear hunt on Friday morning.

A lawsuit was filed against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) days after approving the hunt. That suit claims the hunt is a “needless slaughter.”

Some advocates and lawyers say politics are driving the hunt, but not everyone agrees.

“Bear Warriors United” filed the lawsuit. This was done after after a unanimous vote approved the state’s first black bear hunt in 10 years.

One of the group’s main concerns is outdated research. Bella Schwartz is a legal assistant on the case. She says she doesn’t believe black bears are overpopulated, but that’s not what the FWC says.

“All of the FWC’s old data is really stale, and from past, old surveys,” said Schwartz with Atlantic Law Center. “A lot of the research has been from the 2015-2016 hunt, instead of being recent.”

Laurie Hood, the founder of Alaqua Animal Refuge, says the hunt is politically motivated. She doesn’t believe the FWC approved the hunt to control black bear populations, but for personal reasons instead.

“It’s just a heart-wrenching thing, because it didn’t need to happen,” said Hood. “It’s a hunt that’s appeasing a very small population of Floridians.”

Hood spoke at the meeting on Wednesday in Havana, Florida, where the hunt was approved. She says this of the FWC Board of Commissioners:

One of them is a known trophy hunter. There are photos of him standing around large grizzly bears and other large game animals that were trophy hunted.

Many Floridians have a different perspective, saying the hunt isn’t for sport, but for safety. Ottice Amison is a commissioner in Franklin County, Florida. That’s one of the counties approved for the hunt in December.

“We’re getting calls about bears on porches, at schools, breaking and entering into homes, rummaging through garbage, just feet from where our children play,” said Amison.

Bear Warriors United has provided guidance on instances such as these, explaining how coexistence is possible.

There are four bear hunt zones where permit holders will be allowed to hunt. No counties in Northwest Florida are in those zones. But Bay County is the closest.

Many WEAR News viewers have shared pictures and videos of bears in their neighborhoods. One woman the station spoke with says she would not approve of a hunt happening here.

“We’re the invaders, not the bears” Midway resident Andrea Hostutler said. “The bear, this is their home.”

WEAR News reached out to the FWC, who said they don’t comment on active litigation. They said to watch the commissioner meeting from Wednesday instead.

The hunt will take place from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28 and allow up to 187 black bears to be harvested.