Melissa Ross
As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission debates whether to hold another bear hunt later this year, activists opposed to the practice say they’ll stage a statewide protest to urge the FWC to vote the idea down.
Commissioners approved the controversial hunt last year, the first in the state in more than two decades.
It was scheduled for seven days, but ended after just two because hunters killed 304 bears, close to the 320-bear quota for the hunt.
“Last year’s hunt was a complete disaster. We are staging a new statewide protest on June 18th,” says activist Adam Sugalski.
“We are also concerned because this year, they may possibly add ‘hounding’ to the hunt. Hounding is where you can let a pack of dogs go and hunt bears for you with radio collars on. It is a very destructive practice,” he said.
Meanwhile, other groups like the NRA are issuing statements in support of the hunt. The commission meets on the matter June 22.
