SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Bear management is a significant topic in Seminole County as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prepares for a virtual meeting this Thursday.
The meeting will discuss options for regulated black bear hunting in Florida.
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Seminole County has been effective in reducing bear conflicts through ordinances and community efforts. In 2024, the county received 308 calls, mostly regarding general interactions, with negative conflicts kept under 50%.
Challenges with bears in garbage cans and dumpsters persist, but efforts to reduce attractants have shown progress.
“Seminole County is the number eight county with only 308 calls,” said FWC bear management coordinator Michael Orlando. “So you guys were getting 600-700 calls coming from Seminole County 10 years ago. Since we’ve done all the work, and really, you guys lifted the hard lift of getting ordinances in place and getting money for garbage cans and dumpsters, it has obviously paid off.”
The FWC’s virtual meeting on Thursday will be a listening session to gather public input on bear hunting options. Interested parties can join the discussion by clicking here.