Letters to the EditorPalm Beach Post
November 9, 2015
Slaughter of Bears was Unnecessary
Thank you, Palm Beach Post, for documenting this unnecessary slaughter of black bears (“Inside Florida’s black bear hunt”; Brianna Soukup; Oct. 31). As Frank Cerabino noted in his column “Domestic dogs more dangerous than bears,” dogs are more harmful.
The slaughter of bears had nothing to do with human-bear conflicts. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission already removes and kills these bears. The bears slaughtered were innocent, harmless animals living in the woods. This hunt was just a waste of animal resources. This harvesting took place in bear habitat.
The hunt did not provide a fair chance for the bears. They were drawn to food put out for deer, where they were easy targets. Female bears with cubs were taken. In one case, a cub was killed. Other cubs without mothers will probably die.
The process of educating the public to secure their garbage needs enforcement. The FWC has failed to work with communities in a positive manner, preferring the easy solution of destroying the black bear population.
The FWC is no longer listening to the majority of Floridians who want to preserve nature.
DREW MARTIN
LAKE WORTH
