Bear Hunt Ends After 295 Killed In Two Days

A statewide bear hunt in Florida has been ended after just two days after a higher than expected number of the animals were killed.

Officials had sold more than 3,200 hunting permits for the controversial week-long hunt in the state - the first for 21 years.

Supporters claimed the aim was to cut down on the surging population of black bears, whose numbers have increased from 300 in the 1970s to more than 3,000.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) released a statement on Sunday reporting that 295 bears have been killed in two days of hunting, adding: "The 2015 bear hunt is officially over."

It said that two regions closed to hunting after the first day, and two more were closed on Sunday night.

Authorities have said they were not concerned by the numbers, saying it was a sign that the bear population was higher than initially thought.

Some 207 bears were killed on Saturday, including 99 in the central part of Florida, 12 in the north, 15 in the south and 81 in the northwestern panhandle, according to reports.

Pro-hunting campaigners have said there have been hundreds of bear incidents in neighbourhoods in the last few years, including four where people have been injured - mostly north of Orlando.

Bears have also been blamed for a number of deaths of pets - mostly dogs - which get caught up with the large animals as they rummage through people's bins.

Hunting licences cost $100 for Florida residents, and $300 for non-residents. Restrictions on the licences required the bears to weigh at least 100lbs, there was a limit of one bear per hunter for and they were not allowed to be killed if they were with any cubs.

http://news.sky.com/story/1576207/bear-hunt-ends-after-295-killed-in-two-days

"Enthusiasts"????

It's Florida. Figures.

They obviously want to desensitise the children so they grow up to do it as well:

anymore.











+21

3,000 prompts an act like this? That's hardly a thriving population for state that's nearly as big as the UK.

Ben_Reilly wrote:3,000 prompts an act like this? That's hardly a thriving population for state that's nearly as big as the UK.

Heartbreaking

Apparently the black bears were a threatened species there a couple of years ago.  Revolting people.

That's horrible!

eddie wrote:That's horrible!

It is Eddie, disgraceful

For this alone. I would never visit Florida and won't advise anyone else to, such as family and friends. This is just sickening.

captainJane wrote:For this alone. I would never visit Florida and won't advise anyone else to, such as family and friends. This is just sickening.

Bit excessive don't you think! I don't support hunting for recreation/fun - but a boycott of Florida wont happen.

By the way did anyone see the related story about a black bear attacking a man at a hotel dumpster in Florida thecday before the hunt started? There have also been many documented attacks some resulting in fatalities this year.

What is the solution?

Cass wrote:

captainJane wrote:For this alone. I would never visit Florida and won't advise anyone else to, such as family and friends. This is just sickening.

Bit excessive don't you think! I don't support hunting for recreation/fun - but a boycott of Florida wont happen.

By the way did anyone see the related story about a black bear attacking a man at a hotel dumpster in Florida thecday before the hunt started? There have also been many documented attacks some resulting in fatalities this year.

What is the solution?

What they do in states like Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, etc., is trap the bears and then relocate them to more wilderness areas. That would have saved the three bear cubs as well, as they would have hung around mom.

Relocating doesn't work all the time though. Sadly once a bear gets familiar with human habitation/environment chances are very high that they will make their way back and get into situations involving humans getting hurt.

This of course does not apply to dumb asses who say climb into a bear enclosure or similar at a zoo for giggles.

we relocate giant crocs
Sharks are still protected, same with venomous snakes
just relocate them to less urbanized areas.
and If you live in less urbanized area you choose to live with these threats over the urban ones.

it doesn't always work but it works well enough, and when combined with educational programs to teach people the best ways to avoid dangerous situation with these animals can reduce incidents to almost none.

Very few Aussie die from our environment even though it is full of things that can kill you, manly because of the education programs and adjusting the way we do things to minimize the threats.

They will eat them?