Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 24, 2016

There now are an estimated 4,350 bears in Florida with dramatic increases in some areas of the state, wildlife officials said Thursday. That number, included in a new state bear census, led the officials to describe the population as abundant, robust and growing. That Florida black bear census reflects the state’s population before last fall’s controversial […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

The head of the Florida House of Representatives’ Democrats has filed legislation to protect the state’s black bears in the wake of a contentious state hunt. State Rep. Mark Pafford of West Palm Beach submitted the bill (HB 1055) on Tuesday. Pafford leads the chamber’s 39 Democrats. His bill, the “Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act,” would find […]

Associated PressOctober 25, 2015

Florida wildlife officials closed two regions after the first day of bear hunting after the areas met the limit on the number of bears allowed to be killed during the first statewide hunt in more than 20 years. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission closed the east Panhandle and central Florida region after 99 […]

Associated PressOctober 24, 2015

Wildlife officials are investigating after a bear attacked a man outside Eastpoint motel. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officials say Charles Griffin was walking near the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel and Marina on Friday night when he encountered a bear. He was released after being treated for nonlife-threatening injuries. Wildlife officials are conducting trapping efforts. The […]

Associated PressOctober 23, 2015

Hunters for the first time in more than 20 years will trudge through Florida woods on Saturday to legally kill black bears, a contentious wildlife management action that has activists taking to the streets in protest. Florida wildlife officials have sold more than 3,200 permits to hunters from all over, including 1970s rocker Ted Nugent […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 23, 2015

Dear Bear Hunters, It’s strange to me that you consider killing living things a sport. That you smile over the carcass of a once-living thing and revel in your kill both shocks and offends me. Killing animals for food is one thing – cows are cute, but I love me some steak – but to […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 23, 2015

Dear Bear Hunters, It’s strange to me that you consider killing living things a sport. That you smile over the carcass of a once-living thing and revel in your kill both shocks and offends me. Killing animals for food is one thing – cows are cute, but I love me some steak – but to […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

A Seminole County woman says she was behind a small plane’s buzzing of the Capitol on Wednesday, trailing a “No Bear Hunt!” banner with the email address of Gov. Rick Scott‘s chief of staff. Connie Hedden de Haan of Longwood had AirSign.com, an aerial advertising company, fly the banner around the Capitol as Scott, other elected officials and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 1, 2015

A Tallahassee judge on Thursday denied a request from an environmental group to stop a planned bear hunt in Florida later this month. After a 4 1/2-hour hearing, Circuit Judge George Reynolds rejected Speak Up Wekiva’s request for a temporary injunction against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which approved the week-long hunting season. […]

Melissa RossSeptember 14, 2015

The League of Women Voters of Florida has sent out an e-blast calling for a stop to Florida’s scheduled bear hunt– a message that includes a plug for the organization’s First Vice President, Chuck O’Neal. The missive, “Stop the Hunt! Vote for Chuck!” asks readers to click on a link that takes you to the […]

Tag: bear hunt

Florida’s bear population now 4,350, abundant, robust and growing, officials say

Mark Pafford files black bear legislation

Officials lean toward shutting down controversial bear hunt

Bear attacks man on eve of controversial hunt

Amid protests, bear hunting season opens in Florida

Janelle Irwin: An open letter to the 3,200 people hoping to kill bears over the next week

An open letter to the 3,200 people hoping to kill bears over the next week

Seminole County woman behind aerial bear-hunt protest

Judge declines to stop Florida black bear hunt

League of Women Voters: Stop the bear hunt