FWC to consider proposed bear hunt on Wednesday

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering a proposed bear hunt that could become an annual event.

This discussion follows a bear attack in Collier County, where 89-year-old Robert Markel and his dog were killed.

Commissioners have discussed the proposed hunt since December 2024, and while the deadly bear attack is not the reason for the hunt, the incident could influence the commissioners' decision.

If approved, the hunt would last three weeks in December and be the first black bear hunt in the state since 2015.

FWC plans to issue 187 permits across Florida, with 55 permits designated for Lee, Collier and Hendry counties.

The commission stated that the hunt aims to balance species population numbers with their habitat and maintain a healthy population.

Not everyone is in favor of the hunt.

On Saturday, people across the state protested the proposal.

In South Fort Myers, near Bell Tower, demonstrators held signs saying "Stop the Hunt" and "I Am Not Your Trophy."

"Black bears belong to Floridians," said James Scott, campaign coordinator for Speak Up for Wildlife. "They don't belong to any individual, hunter or organization or institution. They belong to all of us, and so when we have a species that was on the brink of extinction not even a couple of decades ago, we need to make sure that we're responsible and thoughtful."

Mark Barton, an ecologist with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, offered another perspective.

"Hunters are conservationists," said Barton. "We want the bear to do better. We want the bear population to grow. But we also know that certain areas are incredibly densely populated, and there's a resource there."

Public comment on the bear hunt closed on Friday, but commissioners will consider this feedback.

FWC will discuss the hunt during its meeting on Wednesday. If it decides to move forward with the proposals, a vote will take place in August.