By James Scott, Speak Up Wekiva
On the 911 call reporting the tragic death in Jerome, the caller laments: “There are 40 bears out here. They come in and out every day, taking garbage.” Speak Up Wekiva, the organization that sued the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 2015 to stop the last bear hunt, joins the rest of Florida in extending heartfelt condolences to the family of the 89-year-old man - believed to be the first person killed by a Florida black bear in recorded history.
This unprecedented and isolated incident has understandably triggered strong emotions. But emotional reactions - particularly fear and a desire for retribution - must not guide state wildlife policy. Next week, FWC Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a sweeping rule change that would reauthorize an annual trophy hunt, allow baiting of bears, legalize the use of packs of dogs to chase and kill them, eliminate public check stations, and roll back decades of conservation progress.
Related: Florida panthers and black bears need a literal path for survival – here’s how the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides it.
We urge the FWC to delay this vote until at least August.
Serious decisions about an iconic species listed as “Threatened” until 2012 should be based on science, not fear. Current bear population estimates are outdated. FWC’s agency has stated that new data will not be available until 2030. Making irreversible decisions based on incomplete science, during a time of heightened public emotion, is reckless and wrong.
What can we learn from the tragedy in Jerome?
We know Florida’s black bear population remains less than half of its historic size. We know habitat destruction and unsecured human food sources - especially garbage - are the primary causes of bear-human conflict. Hunting bears does not solve this problem.
The right lessons are clear:
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Protect bear habitat.
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Secure food sources that attract wildlife.
No FWC Commissioner should want their legacy tied to a deeply unpopular and scientifically unjustified bear hunt. Floridians don’t like golf courses in our state parks and don’t want trophy hunting of bears without sound science.
Managing wildlife responsibly is not just about bears. When we protect bear habitat, we safeguard hundreds of other species and preserve Florida’s natural heritage. A delay in voting costs nothing, but rash action could now cost the FWC its credibility, and our state its conservation legacy.
The simplest and most effective steps to prevent bear-human conflict, like no-wake zones for manatees, are also the smartest. Let’s get this right.
