Bear Defenders,
With a very heavy heart, we regret to inform you that on Friday (6/21/2024), despite overwhelming opposition from the public and reputable conservation organizations throughout Florida requesting a VETO on HB 87, Governor DeSantis signed HB 87 - Taking of Bears into law. We are both heartbroken and infuriated by the Governor's decision, and this is not the end.
The law goes into effect on July 1, 2024. However, bear killings have already begun;
A black bear was found shot to death in a Florida neighborhood earlier this month, and a bear cub was recently found shot in the gut, which is a slow, agonizing death. The individuals responsible can be prosecuted because these bears were killed before HB 87's effective date. Once the law goes into effect, bear killers like the ones responsible for shooting these two bears will face no civil or criminal penalties.
HB 87 is falsely framed as augmenting self-defense rights against Florida black bears and creates confusion regarding existing legal protections (Common Law Defense of Necessity). We already had a right to self-defense.
The newly signed law sanctions the year-round killing of Florida black bears without adequate safeguards against overkilling. In the 1970s, unregulated hunting and habitat loss caused the near extinction of the Florida black bear, with only an estimated 300-500 remaining. It has taken nearly 50 years for Florida's black bear population to rebound from 300-500 bears to approximately 4,050 today.
Representative Shoaf's assertions that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will still conduct investigations were misleading during the bill's progression. Notably absent from the law is any provision for criminal repercussions for killing bears, rendering investigations pointless.
Loopholes in the law, such as the ambiguous definition of "luring and provoking a bear," facilitate indiscriminate bear killings. Individuals can lure bears onto their property with trash and other attractants, which will not be considered "intentionally" luring or provoking a bear, as Representative Shoaf stated at a previous legislative hearing.
HB 87's origins are rooted in a select few individuals' dissatisfaction with the FWC's refusal to endorse a bear hunting season. The new law neglects constructive approaches, such as bear-wise education, non-lethal deterrents, and community initiatives for bear-resistant trash containers. There is currently $683,500 in the budget for Franklin County bear-resistant trashcans.
By signing HB 87 into law, Governor DeSantis has green-lighted unfettered bear killings under the guise of self-defense. This law undermines public sentiment, challenges the FWC's authority, and demonizes a species that has never killed anyone in the State of Florida.
Please continue to share our petition as we update it with calls to action.
Contact Governor DeSantis and tell him how you feel about his decision to sign HB 87 into law.
Phone: (850) 717-9337
Email: GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com
Be prepared to attend future FWC meetings, and when it comes time to vote, don't forget the names of the Representatives and Senators who backed HB 87.
Please follow us on social media.
Stay tuned for further updates and calls to action.
We thank you for your unwavering commitment and advocacy to protect Florida black bears.