Out of concern for what they say could be a devastating attack on Florida's black bear population, the group Speak Up Wekiva and environmentalist Chuck O'Neal have asked a Leon County judge to halt a looming black bear hunt scheduled to start October 24.
In a motion for a temporary injunction filed Tuesday, the group questioned the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's sale of an unlimited number of permits (2,055 as of Sept. 10) when the bear quota is 320, and the state's refusal to shut down the hunt if that quota is reached within the event's first two days:
The Florida black bear open hunt season includes a two-day (48 hour) minimum which authorizes hunters to kill bears regardless of whether the FWC’s own harvest quota of 320 bears (which was intended to prevent over-harvesting) is surpassed. Therefore, Rule 68A- 13.004 (3)(g) is arbitrary and capricious and does not protect or concern the Florida black bear.
The group also expressed concern that, given the rate at which the permits are being purchased, the number of permits sold could exceed 4,000, which they say makes it "likely" more than 320 bears will die in that two-day timeframe, and thus "FWC has seemingly unwittingly and virtually guaranteed that hunters will exceed any science-based, conservation harvest quota."
The group also points out that the hunt doesn't further FWC's mission, given that it's not being done for conservation or scientific purposes.
The measure comes the same day Governor Rick Scott, unsurprisingly, said he'd do nothing to stop the hunt.
Among permit holders so far are musician-turned-conservative troll Ted Nugent and State Rep. Frank Artiles, a South Florida Republican who is perhaps best known for filing a bill making it illegal for transgender people to use the "wrong" bathroom during the past legislative session.
Those who oppose it, meanwhile, continue to do so vehemently. They plan on demonstrating on multiple occasions, including at FWC's ironically-titled Florida Black Bear & Wildlife Conservation Festival on Oct. 10 in Umatilla.
There will also be demonstrations across the state, including in Tampa and St. Petersburg, the day before the hunt is due to start. View document "Motion.pdf"
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2015.