Education, garbage control, new habitat, and do the science were urged Wednesday as Floridians weighed in on bear hunting. Birth control for bears, potshots, and “rednecks” figured in the mix, too. A 15-year-old girl named Hanna was heckled. And FWC commissioner Richard Corbett was often in the crosshairs because of a teddy bear quote.
That was before lunch. Then after 6½ hours, bear hunting in Florida returned after 21 years when commissioners for the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 5-1 to approve the measure. Commissioner Ron Bergeron was the holdout -- a "blacksheep," he called himself.
Florida’ black bear — a state symbol for wildlife conservation — was legally protected until three years ago. The FWC says the bear population is growing and the iconic creature is no longer threatened.
A one-week bear hunting season will be an annual event. This year's hunt is Oct. 24-30.
Hundreds attended an occasionally tense meeting that occasionally veered off course. There were charges of corruption, blood lust, even murder. Many speakers provided sobering analysis and statistics. Several out-of-state speakers were heard. Roughly 100 signed up to speak and those who opposed bear hunting outnumbered supporters by about 3 to 1.
Here is a live collection of tweets from the FWC meeting in Sarasota. Check back for updates:
All in favor, except Bergeron.
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015The FWC is now asking questions of staff & discussing the proposed rule. The last speaker's genuine comments were welcomed. #FWC2015
— Jen (@JenBLeon) June 24, 2015"By opening up an unlimited hunt"... "you are setting us up for an extinction event" #FWC2015 #StopTheHunt
— Jen (@JenBLeon) June 24, 2015Last speaker before lunch break says this seems like a continuation of "our blood-thirsty desire for species domination." #bearhunting
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015"We harvest carrots, we kill bears. They're not the same thing," speaker says.
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015Commission Meeting on @Flickr! #Photos show more of the story: #bear http://t.co/GnoRcBwtRh #FWC2015 pic.twitter.com/7Ees0Ewfa9
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) June 24, 2015Specifically, Commissioner Corbett says, "I was totally misquoted by Craig Pittman (@craigtimes)." The people don't buy it.
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015Corbett, after a number of people have brought up his quote -- "Those people don't know what they're talking about" -- says he was misquoted
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015Lots of talk about education, even maybe #birthcontrol, for #Florida's bears #FWC2015 | http://t.co/AWR0MeZIBS pic.twitter.com/QLJLGZ5Z8m
— John Howell (@TheDailyFray) June 24, 2015Too far away for pic, but I just spotted man with blue shirt that reads: "If idiots grew on trees this place would be an orchard." #FWC2015
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015Love seeing the students getting involved with the @MyFWC Commission Meeting, on both sides of the issue. #GetInvolved #FWC2015
— Shannon Carnevale (@PolkNR) June 24, 2015During comment on potential bear hunt in #Florida, @LWVFlorida rep asks FWC: "What part of 'consent of the governed' don't you understand?"
— Seán WMNF News (@wmnfnews) June 24, 2015MT @JulieWraithmell: Impressive and humbling how many folks are here to speak for #bears today. Fish+wildlife = quality of life
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) June 24, 2015Bob Andrew president of Southwest Florida Gamesman Association: "I'd rather see them (bears) regulated than starve to death."
— Topher Forhecz (@ForheczT) June 24, 2015Andreu: “When you’re raising your kids there’s a certain amount of tough love you gotta do. ... You gotta manage the wildlife”
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015One fella accused those #Floridians against murdering #bears in Florida State Parks of having "BAMBI MENTALITY". https://t.co/WIbreCzejp
— GRAY (@oceanshaman) June 24, 2015"I'm for the #bear hunt because it's an effective tool to keep the population where its at." - Bill George http://t.co/oYoE5rCDVi #FWC2015
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) June 24, 2015Bonus protest over possible cattle grazing by @FLDEPAlert at Myakka River State Park at #FWC2015 bear hunt meeting pic.twitter.com/MnVpbnixcT
— Topher Forhecz (@ForheczT) June 24, 2015Update: One man here in a bear suit. #FWC2015 #bearhunting pic.twitter.com/qhUTQpL6pR
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015Public speaks now. Carole Baskin, of Big Cat Rescue, says she believes #bearhunting
"will embolden (FWC) to go after the #Florida panther."
— Zack Sampson (@ZackSampson) June 24, 2015"We are here today because bear conservation in Florida has been successful." - HGM Director Diane Eggeman #FWC2015
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) June 24, 2015.@MyFWC Executive Director Nick Wiley speaking now at #FWC2015 on @floridachannel http://t.co/ieRvlOiCeb pic.twitter.com/Gl4F4sXvLS
— Jonathan Muñoz (@JonathanMNews) June 24, 2015Bear hunting is up for debate in Sarasota at a meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. pic.twitter.com/rkCwkm7s8X
— Ian Cummings (@iancummings4) June 24, 2015Today #Florida wildlife officials vote on bringing back the bear hunt. @MyFWC will do live updates. Here's a primer http://t.co/fGLlaqq1VJ
— Craig Pittman (@craigtimes) June 24, 2015Outside
Bitcoin mining emissions in China will hit 130 million tonnes by 2024 https://t.co/w6He7so8N2 pic.twitter.com/qYUDtBdeRK
— New Scientist (@newscientist) April 9, 2021
The Gunk Report
For the Blue-Green Algal Bloom Weekly Update from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, tap here. For DEP's Algal Bloom Sampling Map, tap here.
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