A judge in Tallahassee will hear arguments Thursday on whether to stop Florida’s planned bear hunt, at least temporarily.

Several groups, including Speak Up Wekiva, is suing Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission over plans for the statewide bear hunt, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 24.

  • Reporter Jeff Allen will be in Tallahassee for the hearing on Thursday and will report updates as they happen.

FWC has already sold more than 2,000 bear-hunting permits since they went on sale in August.  The rules crafted by FWC call for killing no more than 320 bears.

However, the FWC is also requiring the hunt go on for two days, even if the quota is reached. Hunters are also being allowed to kill an unlimited number of bears during those first two days.

That means more there’s a good chance more than 320 bears will be killed.

However, Speak Up Wekiva and other bear hunt opponents say the rules are arbitrary and will impact conservation efforts. They say the hunt is being held in a time of year where bears with cubs and pregnant female bears are preparing for the winter.

They also say the hunt does not follow the rules set forth in Florida statutes.

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The Florida Black Bear was listed as threatened just three years ago.

“Because this agency was created by a constitutional amendment, it should follow the voters’ intent.  And the voters, 75 percent of which, have made it clear they do not want this hunt,” said Chuck O’Neal, a founder of Speak Up Wekiva.

Several statewide environmental groups gathered in Orlando last week to protest the upcoming bear hunt.

Some local leaders were there, including Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine.  Constantine is pushing for mandatory bear-proof trash cans for county residents west of I-4 to keep bears away from homes.

Trash is one of the main reasons bears venture into neighborhoods because they are looking for food.

In Lake County, city leaders in Clermont have also said they are against the hunt.

But some residents, like Stephanie Powers in Sanford, say bears have killed animals and even pets on their properties.  They believe a hunt could help.

“There’s no fear in the bears anymore because they’re hungry for the food.  They’re hungry for the trash,” said Powers.

It’s unclear what would happen to the hunting permits already sold if the judge decides to put the hunt to a grinding halt.

Bear attacks on people and pets have grown in the last few years. There were three separate attacks involving women in the last few years in Seminole County.

However, the FWC website itself says there have been no predatory bear attacks on people in Florida, and any attacks have involved bears defending themselves, cubs or food sources.

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