Animal rights activists protest Florida black bear hunt with banner on I-4 overpass

ORLANDO, Fla. — Activists with the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida planned to display their disapproval of black bear hunting by hanging a giant banner from the Interstate 4 overpass at Conroy Road, the group said.

The banner will read, “TELL FWC – NO BEAR HUNT.”

The group is protesting a proposal in front of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to continue to allow bear hunting in Florida.

The last population estimate for black bears was done 13 years ago and before hunting is allowed an updated study should be done, activists said.

If the black bear population is smaller than the decade-old estimate, it could harm the population, ARFF said.

Commission claims that hunting is a way to control the bear population is one of the main sticking points for the activists, who pointed out that before last year, bear hunting in Florida had be banned for 20 years.

“So, let me get this straight, because some Florida black bears are coming to eat human garbage in neighborhoods, the state now wants to again allow a trophy hunt to kill hundreds of bears a year?” ARFF coordinator Bryan Wilson asked. “It’s just not adding up. Putting effort into teaching neighbors how to live safely with bears makes sense and no one loses their life.

“Education is the answer, not senseless killings for trophies.”

The banner hanging marked the start of a trip from Orlando to Tallahassee to protest bear hunting.

The FWC is scheduled to consider the proposal Tuesday.

Cox Media Group