Florida bear hunt Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

A Florida black bear is nestled high in a tree, showing its excellent climbing ability. One of its paws with short, curved claws is visible on a branch as it peers down from the safety of the dense, green foliage and rough bark

FWC says 52 bears were ‘harvested’ in Florida’s 2025 bear hunt

The agency said that a full report will be released in the coming months.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix January 2, 2026January 2, 2026

Fifty-two bears were “harvested” during the recently wrapped 2025 bear hunt, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a release Tuesday.

FWC approves Florida’s first bear hunt season in 10 years

It starts in December.

by News Service of Florida and Jim Turner August 13, 2025August 26, 2025

Report: FWC commissioner Gary Nicklaus resigns ahead of vote on Florida’s controversial bear hunt

Nicklaus’s position as an FWC commissioner drew scrutiny for his ties to golf course development companies with a history of projects on public land.

by Noah Bookstein August 12, 2025August 29, 2025

‘This is a trophy hunt’: Despite pushback, FWC moves closer to allowing Florida’s first bear hunt since 2015

Commissioners will return for a final vote in August.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 22, 2025June 10, 2025

Pinellas County Democrat Lindsay Cross predicts a Florida bear hunt in 2025 would be ‘wildly unpopular’

The last black bear hunt in Florida took place in 2015. It was shut down at the end of just its second day after nearly 300 bears had been killed.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix December 16, 2024April 25, 2025

Florida officials weigh first bear hunt in nearly 10 years

Opponents of the bill said it would lead to increased deaths of the once-threatened animals.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida December 12, 2024December 17, 2024

Florida Republican files bill to allow homeowners to shoot bears without a permit

Bear hunts, which have not been held since 2015, have long been controversial.

by News Service of Florida November 30, 2023May 9, 2025

‘The public does not support it’: No Florida bear hunt this year, officials confirm

The commission last approved a bear hunt in 2015, the first in more than two decades.

by News Service of Florida July 21, 2023September 10, 2024

Florida black bears are safe… for now

by Kate Bradshaw June 22, 2016August 17, 2023

If passed, bills would protect state’s bear habitats

by Kate Bradshaw December 30, 2015August 17, 2023

The bear hunt is on, and so are the protests

by Kate Bradshaw October 21, 2015August 17, 2023

Sh*t happened 10/19/15: Bubba sued, Florida bears (and Screwie Louie’s Porpoise Pub) screwed

by Scott Harrell October 19, 2015August 17, 2023