If there is no “bear hunt” –
With no way to control their numbers –
What will we do when the population doubles ?
Should we just depend on road killed bears to keep their numbers down ?

How do you suggest we deal with the extra bears ?

Within 10 miles of my house there is in all probability 20,000 acres of timberland that has been herbicided. There are NO berry bearing plants left, the forest consists of pine trees, pine straw, and brome grass. Those berries comprise the majority of the bears’ diet, several months out of the year. Unless you people have taught your cute fuzzy little bears to eat pine straw, they are going to become a problem, because there is nothing left for them to eat in the forest and they are being pushed into Urban areas.

Then there is the small matter of environmentalists working for the US Forest Service that are on a mission leveling 15,000 acres of forest, so that it can all be planted in Long Leaf Pine Trees, again decimating the berry bearing plants that the bear need for feed, just 12 miles up the road from my house.

So quit whining and crying about hunters, who for the most part are NOT irresponsible, get off your indignant irresponsible backsides and go fight the battle where it rightfully should be fought. Tell ITT Rayonier and the US Government to quit destroying bear habitat!

Lay off the Kool-Aid.

Eason said they were taking a conservative approach… Beginning with bear population numbers!

The Florida Black Bear Management Plan clearly states that only Primary bear habitat is sampled in their studies. It further states they know bear exist in Secondary habitat, but they’re difficult to estimate there, so they do NOT attempt to estimate those bear. The cities experiencing bear problems, are not considered bear habitat; those bear are NOT estimated.

The Black Bear Management Plan indicates a population of 2,705 – 2,942 bear in Florida per 2002 estimate. In 2012 they estimated 2,640 bear? Now suddenly 4,000 bear a year later??? And, bear are raising 2,000 cubs annually? Somehow their math simply doesn’t work!

Trying to understand this… Primary Black Bear Habitat has a carrying capacity of only so many animals. Once that carrying capacity is met, the bear move out of primary habitat. BUT… ONLY Primary Habitat is sampled in population estimates.

Understanding the sampling method, it’s reasonable to assume that once sustainable population is met, in any Primary Bear Habitat, it will never grow larger under the current sampling method, although bear numbers will continue to increase in surrounding habitat not sampled.

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As far as Ms. Lopez’s comments – If fragmented populations somehow make bear “vulnerable to mortality from roads and proximity to urban areas” increasing the population beyond the carrying capacity of primary habitat reduces their chance of mortality HOW? Increasing the population, will only serve to make bear more vulnerable to those causes of mortality.

And, they know they will not get the Florida Black Bear relisted as endangered. They are hoping for a cease and desist order to stop the hunting season indefinitely, while tying FWC up in court arguing their case.

With the increase in population, how much more money and new regulations will we have to protect the precious bears from the evil people ?

A bear hunt would solve the problem !!!

I agree! Many of these radical animal rights people put animals on the same level as human beings. I am all for good stewardship of our wildlife and natural resources, but sometimes, the herd needs to be thinned for the benefit of all. These folks have “drunk the koolaid” and won’t hear anything other than their own rhetoric.