Grab yer rifles! We're gonna bag us a bear! [View all]

[d_legendary1]

Florida wildlife officials don't know how many black bears live in the state, but they say there are enough to justify a hunt.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday is expected to authorize a hunt of the state's largest native land mammal for the first time in 21 years despite mounting opposition from animal-welfare activists who braved scorching temperatures Monday to protest at FWC's five regional offices.

The Humane Society of the United States also delivered petitions to Gov. Rick Scott bearing signatures of more than 90,000 people against a hunt.

"The commissioners are ignoring the majority of Floridians who have said they oppose a bear hunt," said Bryan Wilson, Winter Springs-based coordinator for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, which protested at FWC's Ocala office that manages bear populations in Orange, Lake and Seminole counties.

While hunting foes made final appeals to the governor, FWC's executive director Nick Wiley released a four-page statement criticizing what he described as "false or misleading" information about the wildlife agency's motives and the science behind its proposed hunt, which would begin in October.

"There is a misconception circulating that suggests the reinstated bear hunt would be nothing more than a trophy hunt. The primary purpose of a limited bear harvest is to manage the bear population while providing carefully regulated hunting opportunities...," Wiley said in a message emailed by his staff.


http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83843387/

They don't know how many bears are out there so they're gonna shoot 'em just to be sure the population is down. Typical Florida.