TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Sierra Club Florida issued the following statement on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s decision to advance a statewide black bear hunt — the first since 2015 — despite widespread public opposition, outdated data, and no sound scientific basis:
“This is a reckless and premature decision that flies in the face of science, public trust, and responsible wildlife governance. The Commission’s own biologists didn’t recommend a hunt in December, and there is nothing in the state’s current Black Bear Management Plan to justify one now. This vote puts Florida’s conservation legacy — and our bears — at risk. Floridians want a science-based, conservation-first approach to bear management. This decision reflects political pressure, not ecological necessity or public will. We’re grateful to Commissioner Steve Hudson for standing up for science and voting no.” – Susannah Randolph, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Florida
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