In the 2020 Florida legislative session, I worked with Representative David Smith- with the support of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission- to pass the Bear Poaching Bill (UNANIMOUSLY) raising fines and penalties for killing Florida Black Bears. 

Hooray!  Unfortunately, that victory celebration was short-lived. 

Using the Bear Poaching Bill as a vehicle, Representative Smith and I were able to  to bring state-wide awareness to Florida's bear poaching problem. For many years, Florida Black Bears have been killed, gutted and their organs removed to be sold on the Asian Black Market. 

Why?  Because bear bile (produced by bear gall bladders) is used in fake Chinese medicine.

Recently and tragically, the horrible government of China has announced an ineffective and useless medical recommendation of using bear bile to treat the corona virus. Not only is China endangering its own people, they are putting bears in Florida and ALL OVER THE WORLD in danger of further abuse, torture, exploitation and extinction. 

China, South Korea, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar already torture and exploit 12,000 bears by imprisoning them in 'crush cages' while jamming tubes in the abdomen to drain bile from their gall bladders.

Now China will be responsible for exponentially increasing the slaughtering of bears throughout the state, country and world-- all in an abhorrent attempt to supply bear bile to Asian stores & markets.

Bears need emergency protections NOW !! 

Please sign this petition asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make an emergency rule change to add the Florida Black Bear onto Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species List.

Thanking you for caring about our innocent wildlife during this global human crisis. 

Katrina Shadix, Executive Director

Bear Warriors United

China recommends bear bile to treat corona virus:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/chinese-government-promotes-bear-bile-as-coronavirus-covid19-treatment/?fbclid=IwAR1NoK38AAf-yPPmWmZ4ukig5QsgYWdW__AYMy5WU40fzBXLiK0sfPo3Xk0

United States Lawmakers introduce legislation to combat global trade in bear parts: https://animalwellnessaction.org/2020/01/15/us-senators-john-kennedy-and-cory-booker-introduce-legislation-to-combat-global-trade-in-bear-parts/

Congress urged to address wildlife issues linked to corona virus:
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/congress-should-address-wildlife-issues-linked-to-virus-groups?fbclid=IwAR0w_maVcp3psglqtLyNEM2AmEMFnmdkpL3F8IF3aHp_-2jOQEDigolfeiA

World pressure to shut down Wildlife 'wet markets': https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/03/anthony-fauci-foreign-wet-markets-shutdown-162975

Connecting pandemics to the exploitation/torture/killing of animals: https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/wet-markets-breeding-ground-for-new-coronavirus-by-peter-singer-and-paola-cavalieri-2020-03?fbclid=IwAR0mel43LgxFL94FbimZSLvw2hfc0Kr_juIme39CQ_Rfk2AvEbWmNFsDmZI

5 things you need to know about bear bile farming: https://www.animalsasia.org/us/media/news/news-archive/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-bear-bile-farming.html?fbclid=IwAR0hMtp9Z6rEIeMzwngtQm-EIwF5fYH7yIl8FXobaT2z0ESr24NElg6Aez8

Video detailing the connection of pandemic viruses to animal torture/killing/exploitation:                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPpoJGYlW54&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3mStfYBEcA4J9BHAyjsXrZm2bMREkP9fvr5zPW8fe3-b97TTeZPr6NxIo