FLORIDIANS TO HOLD STATEWIDE PROTESTS OPPOSING THE PROPOSED FLORIDA BLACK BEAR TROPHY HUNT
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Contacts: Adam Sugalski + Nicole Cordano
Email: adams@oneprotest.org + nicolec@oneprotest.org
Websites: oneprotest.org + beardefenders.org
Who: One Protest/ Bear Defenders, and Floridians
What: Coordinated statewide peaceful protests opposing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) proposal for a trophy hunt targeting the Florida black bear, despite overwhelming public opposition and a lack of current scientific data to justify lethal management. FWC’s updated bear population study will not be finalized until 2030.
When: Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the weekend preceding the FWC Commission Meetings scheduled for May 21 - 22, 2025.
Where: Protests will be held throughout the state. A full list of participating cities and locations is available at beardefenders.org.
Why: The only justification the FWC has given for having the hunt is to offer an opportunity for trophy hunters to bag a bear. This decision is not rooted in sound science or necessity. This proposal serves only to appease special interests at the expense of Florida’s wildlife and the overwhelming majority of Floridians who oppose the bear hunt.
Key concerns include:
Absence of Science: FWC’s bear population studies are incomplete and will not yield conclusive data until at least 2030. Authorizing a hunt without definitive population science violates fundamental principles of sound wildlife management and violates the public trust doctrine. Florida’s black bears are not overpopulating. Natural food sources are abundant in the forests, so they are not starving. They pose no significant threat to humans. Since recorded history, no one has ever been killed by a Florida black bear.
Ethical and Welfare Violations: Proposed regulations would permit inhumane and controversial practices, such as baiting bears and using archery equipment, which increases the likelihood of wounding and prolonged suffering. The use of dogs will be introduced in 2027, a method fraught with cruelty and risk.
Public Opposition: Broad public sentiment overwhelmingly opposes bear hunting in Florida. Floridians consistently favor non-lethal, science-driven management strategies over killing.
No Checkstations: No Oversight, no enforcement, no one to keep track of the number of bears being killed. Check stations are needed to prevent bear trophy hunters from exceeding the bear kill quota. The FWC has removed mandatory check stations from its proposal. We believe this is because during the 2015 Florida Black Bear Hunt damning photos and video showcased the inherently cruel nature of the bear hunt. In addition, it was due to public volunteers, known as Bear Monitors, who reported all bear kills brought to the check stations. It was because of this that the hunt was called off early. Had volunteers not been there, the number of bears killed would have far exceeded the quota of 320 bears, because they sold 3,778 permits. Keep in mind that we only have an estimated 4,050 black bears in all of Florida, and it has taken over 50 years for their population to rebound from around 300 to 500 bears.
The FWC’s plan not only undermines public trust but also threatens the long-term stability of Florida’s recovering bear population, an ecologically significant keystone species vital to the health of Florida’s ecosystems.
Additional Information:
For detailed background on the proposed hunt and its implications, please refer to our petition available here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-florida-black-bear-trophy-hunt