Florida officials have approved a bear hunt for the first time in a decade, drawing renewed attention to a 2018 animal cruelty case.
In that case, nine people in Florida were arrested on charges of baiting bears and using dogs during hunts. Video evidence from the investigation showed a bear falling from a tree into a pack of dogs during a hunt and then being mauled.
The footage was part of a prosecution led by then–Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. At the time, Bondi stated, “Florida black bears were being baited and taken by a group that trained hunting dogs.” Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society, posted a clip of the video online to illustrate what it called the cruelty of bear hunting with dogs.
On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission unanimously approved a bear hunt that permits the use of dogs, baiting, and archery. Opponents, including Jacksonville resident Adam Sugalski, objected to the decision. “It is animal cruelty. But somehow now, that’s a method of hunting now in Florida that they’re going to be using,” Sugalski told First Coast News.
Under the new plan, the use of dogs in the bear hunt will begin in 2027. Some hunters contend that the methods used in the 2018 case were not representative of ethical hunting practices. The vice president of the Florida State Dog Hunters Association told the commission, “Dog hunting when done by true sportsman is conducted with discipline, strong ethics, and a deep commitment to conservation.”
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, using dogs allows hunters to be more selective by giving them more time to observe a bear in a tree before deciding whether to take it.
Most individuals charged in the 2018 case pleaded guilty and received probation. In Florida, hunting with dogs is also allowed for deer, hogs, foxes, and coyotes.
