Protect Florida's bears. Stop the trophy hunt!

At its April meeting, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will consider allowing a bear hunt in Florida for the first time in 20 years. We need your help! Without significant opposition, hunting could begin as early as this Fall.

Join ARFF outside the FWC meeting as we speak out against a bear trophy hunt!

Protest date and time: Wednesday, April 15 from 8:00-9:00am
Location: Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center, Florida A&M University, 1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee ( directions; parking map; parking pass)

We are asking everyone attending the protest and FWC meeting to wear black.

The FWC meeting is open to the public. Following the protest, please attend the meeting and speak against reopening bear hunting (if you don't wish to speak, you can fill out a comment card).

Bears were last hunted in Florida in 1993. Although bear numbers have grown, hunting will threaten a still-recovering population (the Florida black bear was only removed from the state threatened list in 2012).

The FWC acknowledges that hunting will not reduce bear conflicts in residential neighborhoods. Properly securing garbage and eliminating other attractants (pet food, outdoor grills, bird feeders) is the key to reducing conflicts with bears.