Florida’s first bear hunt since 2015 kicked off on Saturday, taking place in several approved zones across the state. The hunt began on December 6 and is scheduled to run until December 28, or until the bear quota is met.
The hunts are taking place across several approved areas in the state, including the Picayune Strand State Forest in Collier County.
In Southwest Florida, 55 permits were issued, allowing each permit holder to kill one bear. The approved hunting zones in this region include Collier County, Hendry County, and part of Lee County.
Hunters in the southern region are restricted to six approved areas and cannot venture into other parts of the state. Each area has specific dates when hunting is permitted.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has provided a map showing these zones.
The decision to resume the bear hunt has been met with controversy. Conversations about the hunt have been ongoing for years, but the final push for approval came after a tragic incident in May. An 89-year-old man, Robert Markel, and his dog were killed by a black bear in Collier County.
The FWC later confirmed through DNA testing that they had killed the bear responsible for the attack.
The hunt was approved shortly after, sparking mixed reactions from the public. As the hunt progresses, officials are monitoring the areas and preparing for the activity.
Kevin Barnicle, a Collier County resident, says encounters with wildlife are simply a normal part of living here.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. Born and raised down the street. It’s the wildlife. I have squirrels, I have bald eagles, I have coyotes in my backyard. I have bears,” said Barnicle.
Another resident, Charles Bradford, expressed his concerns.
“It upsets me because the bears ain’t got nowhere to go. Their homes were already here, and the village has destroyed it, and now they’re just running around trying to find somewhere else to go. And people want to get mad and get aggravated at them when they were here first,” said Bradford.
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