FWC to go forward with bear hunt plan

TALLAHASSEE — The legal hunting of bears in Florida is all but a done deal.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday agreed to move forward with a proposal to remove a ban on bear hunting. A final vote will come in June

"This is not, and was not an easy judgment. We were very concerned," commission chairman Richard Corbett said.

Those in favor of bear hunting argued it would reduce the problems people have with bears. At least 16 people have been injured or attacked by bears in Florida in the past 40 years.

"Several of the serious and recent bear attacks have happened in Seminole County, where the animals are spotted frequently.

Slideshow: Bears roam Seminole County neighborhood

Under the proposal, residents would pay $100 for a permit and the season would start in October.

On Wednesday, the commissioners debated the proposal for nearly four hours before taking input from the public.

"Go with the science. Go with the biologist. You can't go wrong," Newton Cook told the commission.

There were a number of people speaking out against the hunt proposal. Some said that residents securing their trash better would alleviate many of the problems with bears.

"I do not support the hunt. I've stated this, and many others have again and again," Kelley Bowler of Deltona told commissioners.

Commissioners continued to work out details of the proposed hunt and are expected to approve the final version at their June meeting.