Florida wildlife officials approve plan to help control state’s bear population

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a plan to help control the bear population statewide on Wednesday, with one of the options including a bear hunt.

While wildlife officials said they are currently not in favor of a bear hunt, they did not remove the item from the approved bear management plan.

Officials believe the state’s bear population could increase from 4,000 to 11,000 within six years, and they seek a means to control the population.

Hunting is a last resort option, officials said.

READ MORE: Controversial bear hunt could again become legal in Florida

Most states that have black bears hold hunting seasons to cut down the population by about 10 percent, but the hunt has become extremely controversial in Florida.

The last time the state allowed a black bear hunt was in 2015, when 298 bears were killed in two days.

FWC said it conducted a survey that found that 70 percent of Florida residents said they support regulated hunting in general, but only 48 percent were supportive of hunting bear.

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