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‘Just for a trophy:’ Protesters rally against Florida’s proposed bear hunt – WKMG
May
Jarell Baker, Reporter
Published:
Jarell Baker, Reporter
ORLANDO, Fla. – Katrina McAllister and her family traveled from Ocala to join several others at Lake Eola Park Saturday to speak out against the FWC’s new proposed black bear hunt.
“The real reason they’re wanting to kill and hurt them is just for a trophy. There’s not any real proof they need to kill them,” McAllister said.
If approved, the new hunt would last nearly three weeks in December and then between October and December every year after. It would be the first black bear hunt in a decade.
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“In 2015, it was a lesson for us; it was not well organized, and they slaughtered over 300 bears, which was their whole quota they expected to do in the timeframe they allocated,” Val Mobley, another protestor, told News 6.
The FWC is set to meet Wednesday and Thursday in Ocala to talk about a potential new plan for the hunt. Protesters said this plan has several issues, including no check-in stations and the use of hunting dogs.
Bryan Wilson from the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida remarked, “We do not need a bear trophy hunt here in the state of Florida. It’s strictly a blood sport for the few individuals who will get permits to kill these bears.”
However, several local hunters, like Freddie Algarin believe the hunt is necessary.
“I know a lot of bears have been going into our communities. I think it can help with the population control. The priority is doing it the right way and without doing it in a way that hurts the habitat of these animals,” Algarin said.
The FWC said the new plan would issue limited permits, and hunting would also be allowed within bear management units that have at least 200 bears. The FWC would like to limit the total harvest to around 187 bears.
The agency said a little more than 4,000 black bears are in Florida.
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Jarell, a native Floridian, joined WKMG-TV in May 2024.
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