Bear legislation is designed to protect the animal – and humans

Chris Doolin

Members of our family have owned property in Franklin County for generations. We know where we live. We love our rural county. Over the past few years, interactions between wildlife and the public have increased. There are reasons –diminished habitat; food attractions –trash; and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Bear Management Plan. The property owners in our area, as well as state and local officials, have taken numerous steps to reduce problematic human-bear interactions.

An inquisitive Florida black bear has triggered a remote camera set by biologists. The bear is in the sand pine scrub of the Ocala National Forest, which supports the highest density population of black bears in North America.
An inquisitive Florida black bear has triggered a remote camera set by biologists. The bear is in the sand pine scrub of the Ocala National Forest, which supports the highest density population of black bears in North America.

This past year, Franklin County Sheriff AJ Smith elevated the concerns that Franklin County has become inundated with bears. A steady increase of bears are foraging through trash receptacles in search of food. These interactions pose a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and visitors of Franklin County. This problem is not isolated to Franklin County; it exists across North Florida.

At the urging of local officials, law enforcement, residents, and farmers, Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, and Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, took action to ensure that the Legislature address the problem. The Florida Legislature took the following steps:

  • Appropriated $683,500 in nonrecurring funds for the Franklin County Bear Resistant Residential Refuse Containers;

  • Passed HB 87 which allows individuals to use lethal force against bears if they believed lethal force is necessary to prevent imminent harm to themselves, another person, a pet, or significant damage to a dwelling.

Let’s be clear, this legislation does not authorize a “bear hunt and will not allow the indiscriminate killing of bears.”

The bill includes numerous safeguards. There can be no luring that leads to the interaction. There can be no evidence that a person’s actions put them in harm’s way recklessly or intentionally. There are requirements for notification and investigation if a bear is killed. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission must be notified, and possessing, selling, or disposing of the bear or its parts is prohibited.

Finally, this legislation is not an end run around FWCC authority. The bill directs FWCC to create rules to enforce the act. The agency also has complete authority to identify violators and take appropriate actions.

Sen. Simon and Rep. Shoaf should be commended for helping to address this problem in a responsible and thoughtful manner.

Hopefully, Gov. Ron DeSantis will sign the legislation, as well as the special appropriation for additional bear resistant trash cans.

Chris Doolin
Chris Doolin

Chris Doolin is a Government Relations Consultant and property owner that supported of the legislation.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bear legislation is designed to protect the animal – and humans

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