For Immediate Release: June 19, 2015
(Lakeland, FL) — At its June meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will take a final vote on opening a bear hunting season in Florida. Animal activists across the state will rally against a bear hunt at the FWC’s regional offices in West Palm Beach, Ocala, Lake City, Lakeland and Panama City.
PROTEST DATE AND TIME: Monday, June 22 at 12:00 noon
LOCATIONS:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
South Regional Office
8535 Northlake Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33412
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
North Central Regional Office
3377 E U.S. Highway 90
Lake City, FL 32055
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Southwest Regional Office
3900 Drane Field Road
Lakeland, FL 33811
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Northwest Regional Office
3911 Hwy. 2321
Panama City, FL 32409
“Commissioners are ignoring the majority of Floridians who have said they oppose a bear hunt,” said ARFF Campaigns Coordinator Nick Atwood. “A trophy hunt is not a solution to human-bear conflicts. To protect public safety, Florida’s state wildlife agency should invest in bear-resistant trash cans, and not waste its limited resources on a hunt.”
Bears were last hunted in Florida in 1993. Although bear numbers have grown, hunting will threaten a still-recovering population (the Florida black bear was only removed from the state threatened list in 2012).
Hunting bears deep in the woods will not reduce bear conflicts in residential neighborhoods. Properly securing garbage and eliminating other attractants (pet food, outdoor grills, bird feeders) is the key to reducing conflicts with bears.
*The FWC meeting will be held June 23-25 in Sarasota.
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