As humans continue to encroach on what were once remote lands, the animals that have lived there for generations find themselves at odds with their new neighbors. But, unlike people, wild animals can’t be invited over for cocktail hour or get to know each other at the annual block party. Sadly, many communities are turning to expanding hunting permits as a way to combat the increasing number of human/animal encounters.
In the state of Florida, 2015 will mark the first approved bear hunting season in 21 years. During the last week of October, permitted hunters will be allowed to legally shoot and kill black bears on both public and private lands. This hotly debated issue was finally approved at a standing-room-only debate held by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, but not without opposition.
Supporters point to the fact that, since hunting them was banned in 1994, the Florida black bear population has rebounded considerably and controlled “harvesting” will keep their numbers safely in check. The opposition says that there is no reason to kill this animal other than hunters wanting yet another trophy. The FWC has put some safeguards in place: bears must weigh over 100 pounds and no bear can be killed if there are cubs nearby. Opponents do not believe these measures go far enough to protect the animals.
For some, the ruling is not the end of the story. A lawsuit was filed by the conservation group “Speak Up Wekiva” challenging the FWC’s decision. The lawsuit states, in part, “There is no evidence to support the supposition that hunting bears in remote wildlife management areas will reduce conflicts in suburbia.”
Debate continues to rage in the state of Maine as well, where residents find bears popping up on the ballot again and again. After getting the practice of bear baiting approved in 2004, voters once again had the chance to face off on that issue in 2015. By a slim margin (52.7 percent in favor, 47.3 against), baiting and trapping was once again approved by the state’s residents. Bear baiting is allowed in 23 of the 32 states that permit bear hunting.
Hunters take this vote as a victory, environmentalists view is as just one battle lost in a continuing war. Neither side is likely to back down anytime soon.
Images via MyFWCmedia
