Florida is bringing back black bear hunting for the first time in ten years, with a 23-day season set for Dec. 6–28, according to OutdoorLife. The state will issue 187 permits by lottery, each allowing the harvest of one bear, and hunters can use archery gear or firearms. Biologists say Florida’s bear populations are healthy and growing, with more human-bear encounters—including the state’s first fatal black bear attack earlier this year—spurring the decision. But not everyone is on board; activist group Bear Warriors United has filed a lawsuit to block the hunt, claiming the bears were wrongly delisted in 2012, and protests have followed the proposal since it was introduced.
In Montana, this all sounds like familiar territory. We’ve long balanced thriving bear populations with regulated hunting, and grizzly bears are sparking a lot of debate now. The Sunshine State’s approach—science-based population goals, permit caps, and clear rules—mirrors what actually works. If they stick with it, they might find that they can keep bears healthy, people safe, and still have a little adventure in the woods—though in their case, they’ll be swatting mosquitoes instead of shivering in the snow.
