Speak Up for Florida’s Black Bears Before the December Hunt

Florida's Black Bears Need Your Voice—Speak Up Before the Hunt! 🐻

Florida's black bears are losing their forests to development, dying on our highways, and facing another hunting season this December.

We're concerned because:

Outdated science: Florida still needs updated bear population counts.
Shrinking habitat: Development and roads are fragmenting the forests bears need to survive.
Hunting with dogs: Florida allows dogs to pursue bears during designated training seasons, with plans to allow bear hunting with dogs on private lands in 2027. This raises serious concerns about animal welfare.
Public opposition: 75% of respondents to FWC's public survey opposed the proposed hunt.

Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have supported stronger protections against animal cruelty. The use of dogs to pursue bears raises important questions about how those protections relate to hunting practices.

The December hunt is approaching, and decisions are being made now.

Send a letter to Governor and First Lady DeSantis sharing your concerns about the hunt, outdated population data, and the planned use of hunting dogs.

Make your voice heard before the hunt begins!

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Governor and First Lady DeSantis: Stop the Bear Hunt - Keep Dogs Out of It

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Dear Governor and First Lady DeSantis, Florida's black bears are an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. Yet another hunt is approaching despite serious concerns about outdated science, habitat loss, and animal welfare. In FWC's public survey, 75% of more than 13,000 respondents opposed the proposed hunt. While not a representative poll, it reveals substantial public opposition. Accurate population counts are essential. FWC's statewide research continues through 2028, while its widely cited estimate of approximately 4,050 bears relies on older assessments. How can the cumulative effects of hunting, road deaths, and habitat loss be adequately evaluated without updated population numbers? Florida's bears are losing ground. Development and highways fragment forests, isolate bear populations, and increase deadly vehicle collisions. Bears now occupy only about half their historic range. Hunting does not resolve human-bear conflicts. FWC acknowledges this. BearWise education, securing garbage, and protecting habitat offer more direct solutions. We are especially concerned about hunting with dogs. Florida allows bear-dog pursuit training and plans to permit hunting bears with dogs on private lands in 2027. These practices raise serious animal-welfare questions. Your administration's support for Trooper's Law and Dexter's Law demonstrates a commitment to protecting dogs from cruelty. We ask that the welfare of both dogs and bears receive equally careful consideration. We respectfully request that you reconsider the hunt and review current population evidence, habitat threats, and humane alternatives before proceeding. Florida's bears deserve a future guided by sound science and responsible stewardship. Sincerely,

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