STATEWIDE PROTESTS AGAINST FWC'S PROPOSED BEAR TROPHY HUNT THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH!!! 

Contacts:
Adam Sugalski - adams@oneprotest.org
Nicole Cordano - nicolec@oneprotest.org
Website: BEARDEFENDERS.ORG

WHO:
Floridians, Bear Defenders, and allied wildlife advocates

WHAT:
Statewide, synchronized peaceful protests are calling on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to vote 'no' to the black bear trophy hunt.

WHEN:
Saturday, August 9, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
(Weekend before the final FWC vote on the hunt, scheduled for August 13–14)

WHERE:
Multiple cities across Florida. Complete list of protest locations at beardefenders.org

BACKGROUND AND WHY WE OPPOSE THE PROPOSED BEAR HUNT

In 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) established the Bear Technical Assistance Group (BEAR TAG), of which many organizations are affiliated, including our organization, One Protest. This advisory body comprises both hunting and non-hunting organizations and provides direct access to FWC bear biologists and staff. Through regular meetings, we review scientific research, population data, and human-bear conflict trends, offering a collaborative forum for data-driven dialogue and policy guidance.

It is critical to note that during the meetings (since 2017), no scientific justification was ever presented for reinstating a bear hunt. That’s why, at the December 2024 FWC commission meeting, Floridians, FWC biologists, and staff were blindsided when FWC Commissioner Gary Lester abruptly called for a hunt, without reference to data or necessity. Contrary to claims by bear hunting proponents, our organization’s insights are grounded in first-hand knowledge, years of collaboration with FWC staff, and a deep understanding of the science behind bear management.

FWC COMMISSIONER GARY LESTER WANTS A BEAR HUNT

At the December 11, 2024, FWC meeting, the FWC Bear Biologist Mike Orlando provided an update on the state’s comprehensive bear management plan, addressing key areas such as habitat conservation, human-bear interactions, and public education. Mr. Orlando concluded that “no action was needed at this time” regarding bear management.

Despite this scientific recommendation, Commissioner Gary Lester abruptly stated, “I’ll be very succinct,” before requesting that staff draft a proposal for a bear hunt. The Commission then directed staff to prepare this proposal for consideration at the May 2025 meeting.

This directive was issued even though FWC’s own statewide bear population study is not expected to be completed until around 2030. Advancing a bear hunt proposal without the benefit of current, science-based population data undermines responsible wildlife management and ignores the very precautionary principles FWC claims to uphold.

[Click here to view the December 11, 2024, FWC Commission Meeting.]

FWC’S VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS REGARDING THE PROPOSED BEAR HUNT

Following the FWC’s December 2024 Commission meeting, agency staff initiated a series of virtual public workshops to gather input on proposed black bear hunting regulations, including season structure, methods (dogs, archery, baiting), bag limits, and permit distribution. These sessions, held on March 13 and 20, and April 2, 3, and 5, were attended by our organization, including preliminary discussions during the BEAR TAG meeting.

Across all sessions, the majority of public participants voiced strong opposition to the hunt itself and the proposed methods of take. Despite this overwhelming feedback, FWC pressed forward with the regulatory framework, including controversial practices such as the use of dogs, baiting, and archery, each of which was met with consistent resistance by attendees.

One particularly alarming revelation was the planned elimination of mandatory check stations. These stations previously served as critical tools for oversight, enforcement, and biological data collection. Their removal signals a troubling lack of transparency and appears designed to minimize accountability and public scrutiny.

Throughout the meetings, FWC failed to present any legitimate rationale for a hunt. FWC’s  Hunting and Game Management Director Morgan Richardson admitted the hunt was not about managing the bear population but about providing an “opportunity” to kill bears. This contradicts the FWC’s claim that the hunt is being used to slow bear population growth rates.

FWC’S MAY COMMISSION MEETING

In a move that surprised no one familiar with the agency’s trajectory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a draft bear hunt proposal that failed to include a “no hunt” option, despite overwhelming public opposition to the hunt itself and the most controversial methods, including hounding, baiting, and archery. The proposal, which expands upon the already-criticized 2015 hunt, reflects an alarming disregard for public input and ethical wildlife management.

During the May 2025 Commission meeting in Ocala, FWC leadership sought to downplay mounting criticism over the lack of scientific justification for the hunt. When questioned about the December 2024 meeting, where Bear Biologist Mike Orlando had concluded his management plan update by stating that "no action was needed," Commissioners chose not to ask Mr. Orlando directly, despite his presence. Instead, they deferred to Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen, who claimed the phrase was simply standard procedural language when no formal rule was being introduced.

What Mr. Orlando did not say before, during, or after the presentation is more important. He made no recommendation for a hunt. He never stated that bears were overpopulated or that their growth rate needed to be slowed. Nor did he assert that the population had reached biological, social, or environmental carrying capacity. His silence on these foundational scientific criteria underscores what the public already suspects: the proposed hunt is not grounded in science or necessity, but in personal and political motives.

The FWC’s decision to advance this proposal in the absence of scientific justification and against the will of the public is not only irresponsible, it undermines the integrity of wildlife governance in Florida and blatantly disregards the public trust.

During the meeting, Commissioner Sonya Rood asked archery questions about whether what people were saying about the bears being shot in the lungs with arrows, essentially causing them to suffocate and die slowly, was true. Morgan Richardson, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management at Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, responded that, in his opinion, no. Then he deflected by stating that other states allow archery for hunting bears. A quick search will show you the gruesome reality of killing bears with bows, hunting them with dogs, and luring them with bait and deer feeding stations.

Here's a graphic video that shows what happens when an arrow strikes a bear. Viewer discretion is advised. 

FLORIDIANS DO NOT WANT A BEAR HUNT

At the May FWC commission meeting in Ocala, a total of 167 people spoke. Of those speakers, 121 opposed the bear hunt, and only 46 people spoke in favor of the hunt. Despite the overwhelming majority opposing the hunt, FWC commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward with the bear trophy hunt.

A credible statewide poll shows that 81% of Florida voters oppose a bear hunt, including 89% against hounding and 86% against baiting. Even the FWC’s public survey found that three out of four Floridians oppose bear hunting. These facts paint a stark contrast to the narrative FWC leaders are pushing.

Despite the FWC's claims that over 60% of Floridians support a bear hunt, this figure is deeply misleading. It refers to the percentage of voters who supported Amendment 2, the Right to Hunt and Fish, not specifically bear hunting. During the campaign, its own supporters, including a known bear hunter, publicly claimed it would not be used to authorize a bear hunt. 

Yet only months later, at the December 2024 FWC meeting, that same individual cited Amendment 2 as justification for demanding a bear hunt. You can watch that here in this video from The Florida Channel. 

Here is a recent Interview with FWC's Morgan Richardson and George Warthen regarding the Florida bear hunt. They mention Amendment 2 and claim robust populations, but lack the scientific evidence to support the claim. They also cite a 2016 bear hunt survey to gauge their opinions on hunting bears. Why are they not using the latest survey and instead referencing a survey from nine years ago? 

SILENCING FLORIDIANS

During the May FWC meeting, the Commissioner chair limited the public comments from 3 minutes per person to just one minute. Floridians travel from all over the state to attend these meetings. They take time off from work and have to pay travel expenses. At the very least, the commissioners could allow us to speak for a full 3 minutes. 

Understanding the Rise in Bear-Human Encounters: A Preventable Problem with Proven Solutions

It is important to note that bear hunting does not reduce bear-human conflicts. Despite this evidence, some advocates of trophy hunting falsely claim that killing bears is necessary to control populations and prevent starvation. This narrative is misleading. Scientific research and on-the-ground experience show that Florida’s bears are not starving. 

The rise in bear-human conflicts in parts of Florida, including regions like Franklin County, has far more to do with human behavior than bear behavior. The core issue is not a lack of food in the forest. It’s the abundance of unsecured, calorie-rich attractants in neighborhoods, particularly garbage, deer feeders, and bird feeders. Florida’s black bears have access to ample natural food sources in the wild. However, like most wildlife, they are opportunistic and will take the path of least resistance, opting for easy meals found in unsecured trash over foraging in the woods.

Communities that have embraced proactive, science-based solutions have seen remarkable success. Seminole County, once a hotspot for bear encounters, experienced a dramatic decrease in conflicts after implementing bear-resistant trash cans. Similarly, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported a 95% reduction in bear-related incidents in a Volusia County neighborhood following the introduction of bear-resistant trashcans. These results are not isolated. This strategy has proven successful around the world. Until the root causes are addressed, conflicts will continue. But the tools exist now: secure garbage storage, removing attractants like bird feeders, and installing bear-resistant trash containers.

The solution to these preventable conflicts is not bullets, it’s responsible coexistence. Simple, effective, and proven measures can reduce bear encounters, protect public safety, and preserve one of Florida’s most iconic native species.

A DEADLIER PROPOSAL: 2025 BEAR TROPHY HUNT EXPANDS CRUEL METHODS, REMOVES OVERSIGHT

The proposed rules include; 

Hounding or hunting with dogs involves releasing packs of dogs to relentlessly pursue bears through the woods, often for miles. Bears, particularly in Florida’s subtropical climate, are susceptible to overheating under stress. They lack sweat glands and are poorly equipped to regulate body temperature during extended chases. The result is often physical exhaustion, collapse, or a desperate climb up a tree where violent encounters with dogs can erupt. Injuries and fatalities are not uncommon for bears, dogs, and any wildlife. Cubs separated from their mothers may later die from starvation or predation. 

Florida is no stranger to the impacts and sheer terror dogs inflict on bears. In 2019, Florida authorities exposed a brutal poaching ring that used hounds to terrorize bears, confirming how easily this method can devolve into unchecked cruelty.

Read about the poaching case here: Nine arrested when illegal dog training ring is busted for using canines for 'horrific' hunting and mauling of black bears then posting graphic videos of attacks on social media.

In this YouTube podcast episode, two former criminal investigators, both experienced in exposing severe crimes against both humans and animals, shared the harrowing details of a Florida wildlife poaching ring (mentioned above) previously uncovered during an undercover operation. The story centered on the illegal use of dogs to hunt and maul bears, and the investigators recounted a meeting with the lead Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officer who oversaw the case. They met the officer at a professional conference, where he disclosed the extent of the cruelty uncovered during the investigation. According to their account, he presented graphic photographs and video evidence documenting the abuse, material so disturbing and inhumane that, despite their routine practice of publicly posting evidence to raise awareness, they made the rare decision not to share this content on their platform. This testimony, coming from professionals accustomed to confronting the darkest corners of human and animal cruelty, underscores the severity of the crimes involved. It also raises critical concerns about the FWC’s recent proposal to authorize the use of dogs to hunt black bears. This action could enable similar abuses, escalate animal suffering, and compromise ethical wildlife management across the state.

After conducting a five-year undercover investigation into the use of dogs to hunt deer in Florida, undercover investigator Adam Sugalski and his team uncovered extensive evidence of cruelty, chaos, and abuse. Although the findings were initially slated for release at a later date, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s recent decision to approve the use of dogs in proposed black bear hunts prompted Mr. Sugalski to come forward sooner. Having witnessed firsthand the horrors inflicted on both wildlife and dogs in these scenarios, ranging from severe injuries and stress to unsanctioned chases and prolonged suffering, he felt a professional and moral obligation to speak out. The use of dogs to hunt is not only inhumane but also ecologically disruptive and scientifically unsound.

Such methods pose serious risks to native species, violate principles of fair chase, and often result in needless suffering for both targeted and non-target species. The implications of this practice are especially grave when applied to Florida’s recovering black bear population, which is already under mounting pressure from habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and human encroachment. Reintroducing or expanding such an archaic and cruel hunting method threatens to unravel decades of conservation progress. Click here to learn more.

Archery hunting poses a grave concern. Due to a black bear’s thick hide, dense musculature, and substantial fat layers, it is extremely difficult to kill a black bear quickly with arrows. Most do not die immediately. Instead, they may suffer for hours or even days from massive blood loss, punctured lungs filling slowly with blood, or abdominal wounds leading to infection and sepsis. These are not clean kills. These are prolonged deaths marked by terror, confusion, and agony. And when mothers are killed, their cubs face a delayed but inevitable death of their own.

Here's a graphic video that shows what happens. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Baiting is deceptively named. It is not hunting. It is a calculated ambush. Bears are lured to bait sites using human-provided food: pastries, corn syrup, candy, and meat scraps. Florida black bears are already habituated to deer feeding stations. This not only exploits their natural foraging behavior but also conditions them to associate people with food. A practice that the state officially prohibits for the general public due to the risks it creates. Yet hunters are granted exemptions, revealing a double standard that endangers both bears and communities. Widespread deer feeding stations and unsecured trash have already conditioned Florida’s bears. Baiting amplifies this problem, setting them up for both conflict and death.

No Check Stations. Without oversight, there is little to prevent the illegal killing of undersized bears, nursing females, or cubs. Relying on an honor system for reporting bear kills is irresponsible, ill-advised, and invites abuse of the system. It erodes accountability and masks the true impact of the hunt. Our organization, along with many others, has seen firsthand the aftermath of unethical and unnecessary hunting practices. Simply saying that we should “trust hunters” to act responsibly without oversight is, at best, naïve and, at worst, willfully negligent. Why 

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF OUR COMMITMENT TO FLORIDA’S BLACK BEARS

Since 2015, many organizations, groups, and individuals have been at the forefront of efforts to protect Florida’s black bears. We’ve engaged extensively with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) through public meetings, and served as volunteer bear monitors at state-operated check stations across Florida during the 2015 Florida Black Bear Hunt..

In 2015, a total of 304 bears were killed. The hunt was scheduled for a week but was halted after just two days due to the high number of bears killed. Proponents of the bear hunt have argued that the high number of bears killed in such a short period was indicative of overpopulation. However, data contradicts that claim. The ratio of bear hunters to bears was over 12-1. The majority (78%) of bears killed were taken on private lands. In the Eastern Panhandle Bear Management Unit (BMU), 90-100% of bears killed were "harvested" on private property, many showing clear signs of having been lured by bait, such as corn found in their stomachs when they were brought into check stations. The speed at which the hunt unfolded was not a reflection of excessive bear populations but rather a result of bears being conditioned to human-provided food sources, such as deer feeding stations, making them predictable and easy targets for trophy hunters.

In the wake of the 2015 Florida black bear hunt, a public memorial was held on November 1, 2015,  at Lake Eola in Orlando. Hundreds of advocates gathered to mourn the bears lost and to stand in solidarity against the inhumane and unscientific policies that led to their deaths. This solemn event marked more than a tribute. It became a catalyst. It deepened the resolve to fight for the protection of Florida’s black bears and to pursue lasting reforms rooted in science, ethics, and responsible stewardship.

In the aftermath of the 2015 Florida black bear hunt, public outrage escalated as disturbing photographs and firsthand accounts emerged, such as the bear hunter who brought a mother bear to one of the check stations and bragged about kicking cubs off the mother bear's lifeless body as he dragged her away. 

On June 18, 2016, we coordinated a statewide demonstration across 28 cities in advance of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) meeting that was held on June 22, 2016. Thousands of individuals participated in these protests, unified in their opposition to Florida’s black bear hunt.

On June 22, 2016, more than 100 concerned citizens and wildlife advocates attended the FWC meeting in Eastpoint, Florida, to voice opposition to any future bear hunts. In response to this overwhelming public concern, FWC Commissioners voted 4-3 against holding a 2016 black bear hunt, marking a crucial turning point in the agency’s approach to bear management.

Subsequently, on April 19, 2017, FWC Commissioners committed to revising and strengthening the state’s bear management plan, pledging to provide a comprehensive update within two years. During this meeting, Commissioners explicitly stated that they would not revisit the issue of a bear hunt until 2019. This decision was primarily influenced by sustained public pressure and the realization that the controversy surrounding the hunt had placed an enormous burden on the agency.

At the time, FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski acknowledged the toll that the hunt had taken on the agency, stating:

"A hunt is consuming; it is consuming to this agency all the way around, and the benefit that we get with this species at this moment in time, I don’t know if it’s worth the consumption that our team is going to go through, and we’re all going to go through."

IN CLOSING

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has acknowledged that its bear population estimates won’t be complete until 2030. In the absence of updated, peer-reviewed data, how can a hunt be responsibly or ethically justified?

• In addition, there is no study or biological evidence showing that bears are suffering due to a lack of natural food sources or that their population is exceeding the land’s carrying capacity. Black bears in Florida are not overpopulating. They are not starving. 
• Since recorded history, there has only been ONE human fatality caused by a Florida black bear.
• In short, there is no ecological, social, or biological justification for killing them.

What is more troubling is the growing number of threats bears now face beyond the proposed hunt, such as habitat loss, vehicle strikes, poaching, and House Bill 87.

House Bill 87, "Taking of Bears," was signed into law last June (2024) and has created dangerous ambiguity around what is legally permitted when it comes to killing bears. Senator Cory Simon publicly stated that individuals in his district already engage in “shoot, shovel, and shut up,” a phrase that openly acknowledges poaching. HB 87, under the guise of protection, may now embolden that behavior with less fear of consequences. 

Vehicle strikes are not occurring because there are more bears; it is because there are more people, roadways through our forests, and fragmented bear habitat. A bear hunt will not reduce the number of bears struck by vehicles; it will only add to the total mortality of bears killed each year.

National Geographic released a documentary following bear biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Below are some quotes from the bear biologist in Nat Geo's documentary.

"Bear management has found that a lot of the bears they handle have been shot before, so we run a metal detector all over them to check for metal. A surprising number of bears have probably actually been shot before."

“If there’s not enough new bears entering a subpopulation from somewhere else in the state, it could lead to poor health of that subpopulation.”

“FWC biologists are studying each subpopulation with full population estimates and genetic assessments expected by 2030.”

Why is there a rush to move forward with a bear hunt before 2030? 

Wildlife management must be rooted in evidence, not emotion. And yet, what we continue to see is that those pushing for this hunt are not basing their arguments on science but on the emotional desire for the "opportunity" to kill. That is not conservation. That is not ethics. That is not science.

FLORIDA BLACK BEAR FACTS

• Since recorded history, there has only been ONE human fatality caused by a Florida black bear.
• Florida black bears are predominantly vegetarian; their diet consists of 80% plants, 15% insects, and only 5% animal matter, which is usually carrion.
• Black bears are slow to reproduce.
• Black bear regulate their own populations through a biological process known as delayed implantation. This is nature’s way of keeping bear populations in check. If food is scarce, female bears will not reproduce every two years but instead every 3-4 years.
• It has taken 50 years for Florida’s black bear population to rebound from the brink of extinction (300-500 bears) to only an estimated 4,050 bears today.
• Unprovoked bear attacks are extremely rare. According to bear expert Lynn Rogers, Ph.D. of the North American Bear Center, you are 45 times more likely to be killed by a dog, 120 times more likely to be killed by bees, and 60,000 times more likely to be murdered by another human being than to be killed by a black bear.
• Bears disperse more seeds than birds.

For more information and to learn what you can do to stop the hunt, visit BEARDEFENDERS.ORG.