FWC: 304 bears killed in Florida Bear Hunt

Hunters killed 304 bears in last month's bear hunt in Florida, in what officials are calling a safe, sustainable hunt.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials announced the final numbers Thursday. Originally FWC said 298 bears were killed.That final estimate is less than the original quota of 320 bears.The new number includes bears that were taken illegally or recovered after the check stations closed.

The hunt was meant to be a week-long event, but FWC had to close the hunt after two days statewide. However, in Central and East Panhandle bear management units, the hunt was shut down after only a day. The Central BMU includes almost all of Central Florida.

Bear harvest by county for the 2015 Florida black bear hunting season. There were 46 wildlife management areas in the 4 BMUs that were open for hunting during the 2015 bear season. Bears were harvested on 7 wildlife management areas, with the majority (83 percent) taken on Ocala National Forest (Table 3).

Florida black bear range and 7 Bear Management Units (BMU), where BMUs in gray were closed to the 2015 bear hunt and BMUs in brown were open to the 2015 bear hunt (FWC)

FWC attributed the quick end to the hunt to two factors: the high number of hunters, and a higher than anticipated bear population.

About 3,776 permits were sold, with almost all of them going to Florida residents.

FWC estimates there are between 5,000 and 6,000 bears in the state right now. Officials said 3,500 of the bears are adults, and 1,200 cubs are born each year.

More accurate numbers are expected to be released when biologists finish a statewide survey next year.

Of the 304 bears killed during the hunt, about 59 percent were female, and 21 percent of those female bears were lactating, meaning they were still feeding cubs. That fact is an added source of controversy to an already controversial hunt. FWC officials said they are not concerned about cubs who lost a mother in the hunt. They said there is no indication of any underweight or young cubs that are now in danger.

Any cubs they find that are underweight or hurt will receive help and then be released.

FWC said the hunt was meant to stabilize the bear population, not deal with a rise in "nuisance bear" complaints, particularly in Central Florida.

Meanwhile, FWC said although the plan was to have the hunt annually, the agency now says it will wait until the final survey results are out before deciding on future hunts.