Protestors gather in Central Florida to stand up against black bear hunt proposal – WESH

Protestors came together in Ocala, DeLand and downtown Orlando on Saturday to protect black bears.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet May 21-22 to hear options for brining a bear hunt back for the first time since 2015.
If the proposal gets approved, the hunt will last for at least three weeks in December.
“I have personal experiences running into them, and I do not consider them a threat,” said Betsy McClain, a Longwood resident who joined a protest in Lake Eola Park. “So it’s cruelty at its finest.”
“I think it’s very wrong and I think it’s sad because they have feelings as well, but not many people understand they have feelings,” said Serenity McCallister, a 13-year-old animal advocate.
“There is an overdevelopment, overpopulation, and a subdivision overpopulation. So, the bears’ habitat is getting destroyed,” said Raquel Levy, a Volusia County resident who joined the protest in DeLand.

“It is strictly a trophy hunt for the few individuals who are going to get permits to kill these bears,” said Bryan Wilson, the Central Florida coordinator for Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.
“The reality is that bear meat is actually delicious,” said Mark Barton, a supporter of bear hunting. “It’s a really great source of protein. especially if, like me, you don’t want to support the meat industry.”
Barton believes the outcomes could outweigh the risks.”
“By focusing this hunt in an area where there’s a lot of bears, you know, we can use that money to promote, more population growth in the areas where they still need help,” said Barton.
The FWC says there are more than 4,000 bears in the state.
A spokesperson said the staff started talking about the hunting last December.
“At the December 2024 Commission meeting, Commissioners directed staff to develop a range of options for the Commission’s consideration for black bear hunting in 2025. At the May 21-22, 2025, Commission meeting, staff will present options for amendments to hunting rules to implement a sustainable and repeatable hunt structure based on bear population information. Following direction from the Commission, staff will return to a future Commission meeting for a final hearing,” the FWC told WESH 2 News in an email.
Permits would be issued through a random draw.
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