Florida Bear Management Framework Open for Comment
Florida –-(AmmoLand.com)- Florida is currently seeking public input on a draft framework that will guide the state’s future development of black bear management plans.
The draft was put together by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and included input from multiple stakeholders.
It is intended to provide guidelines for the FWC to use when making future decisions on bear management. The plan focuses on:
Conserving enough habitat to support sustainable bear populations;
- Creating “Bear Smart Communities” where all stakeholders, both private and public, make efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts;
- Keep bear complaints at a reasonable level;
- Ensure enough funding and staff to implement bear conservation programs.
Bears cannot currently be harmed or killed in Florida and the plan does not change that status. However, the plan does acknowledge the need to incorporate all stakeholders in the development of management plans going forward, including the possibility of hunting in the future.
“Our goal is to have a healthy, sustainable population of black bears in Florida,” said David Telesco, FWC’s black bear management coordinator. “To accomplish this goal, we welcome as much public and local government input as possible while completing this framework.”
The comment period for the public and local governments has been extended to October 1.
Florida sportsmen are encouraged to click here to go to a dedicated webpage and leave their comments on the proposal. Once on the page, you should click on “New Item” to enter a new comment for each line or chapter of the plan.
Once all the comments are in, the FWC will address them as it moves towards developing the final framework.