ORLANDO, Fla. — The next move in the debate over bear hunting happened Monday in central Florida.
Activists hung a banner across Interstate 4 in Orlando, asking people to support the animals and say no to hunting.
The move comes just hours after another bear sighting happened in Longwood.
Raw: Aerial video of bear hunting protest banner
But animal rights activists say allowing hunting won't reduce the sightings, and they're hoping to reach drivers on I-4 with the banner on the overpass that reads "Tell FWC no bear hunt."
The Florida Wildlife Commission will decide whether to allow bear hunting.
The license would cost Florida residents $100 and would last for one week in the fall, ending the state's 21-year hiatus from a bear hunting season.
"The bears don't affect anyone, no, and I don't know why people want to have bear hunting season. I think it's ridiculous. We're on their property. They lived here," said a resident.
Black bears were considered a threatened species in Florida until just three years ago.
According to animal rights activists, the state has no recent count of wild black bears.
They said allowing hunting could harm the bear population, and killing bears deep in the woods will not prevent neighborhood sightings.
Related Story: Woman spots bear in Longwood ahead of protest of bear hunting in state
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