Animal advocates opposing Florida bear hunt file lawsuit against state officials

HAVANA, Fla. — Bear Warriors United filed a suit against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission successful absorption to the Florida achromatic carnivore hunt.

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Rachael Curran, the unit lawyer astatine Stetson University College of Law’s Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, was representing the carnal advocacy organization.

After a arguable 2015 hunt, Florida officials appointed by the politician reopened the black bear hunt play earlier this month. Animal advocacy groups powerfully opposed it.

George Warthen, the commission’s main conservation officer, said the proposal, requested by the committee successful December 2024, considered Florida’s “current colonisation estimate,” which helium listed arsenic aged arsenic 2010 successful the Big Bend, 2014 successful the Central area, and 2015 successful the South.

“Bear populations are growing,” Warthen said during the gathering astatine the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Conference Center.

Warthen said the unit recommended requiring permits and quotas, limiting hunting zones, establishing a clip limit, and nurturing a backstage lands carnivore harvest program.

After the presentation, Rodney Barreto, the commission’s seat and a Coral Gables existent property developer, said that arsenic a courtesy, helium was allowing nationalist officials to talk first. The archetypal speakers each supported the hunt.

“Parents privation their children harmless walking to the autobus stop,” Gulf County Commissioner Sandy Quinn said.

Nine-year-old Kelsey was the past speaker. She brought her connection successful a purple folder with a representation of a ample achromatic bear. She stood arsenic a beardown hostile of hunters’ usage of arrows and dogs.

“Bears are portion of Florida’s chaotic family, they assistance our forest, and they merit to unrecorded without being chased oregon wounded for sport,” Kelsey said.

The question approving the hunt passed unanimously.

More of Warthen’s descent shows:

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

fwc George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

FWC George Warthen, the main conservation serviceman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, presented this descent during the commission's gathering connected Wednesday successful Havana, Fla.

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