There is nothing wrong with a controlled bear hunt (as this one in FL appeared to be), and may help keep bears away from suburban areas. It is also a chance for a number of hunters lucky enough to win a draw to hunt bears for the adventure and food. Keep in mind, many of the areas where bears are hunted are funded in whole or in part by hunting/lfishing license fees, permit fees, and hunting draw app. fees. Hunters and fishers pony up the bulk of money so that All citizens can use those lands for a variety of reasons, including hunting.

Bear pops are increasing in two areas of Texas (on the border with LA whose hunter-funded game & fish department has successfully Increased bear populations; and in the lower trans-Pecos region where populations have returned from Mexico), and may reach huntable populations in a few years.

Hunter-funded efforts have successfully re-introduced Texas Bighorn sheep populations, and are having some positive effect in re-introducing Eastern Turkeys into E. Texas.

This is why tolerant and constructive bird-watchers (including many who do Not hunt) purchase hunting licenses nevertheless: These funds help to maintain and expand ALL species of birds and other animals.

I wish others put their $ where their is.

Further, the Florida Panther and the black bear are two different species who live in completely different manners.

Wildlife corridors are a good way to help most species, and hunters and taxpayers are helping to fund such efforts in both CA & FL. Maybe the HSUS will chip off some of its $100,000,000 anti-hunting litigation fund to help. But don't count on it.

Their numbers have been surging, and no non-lethal options have been presented to prevent human-bear interactions. Humans have been a natural predator of bears in North America for the past 10,000 years. Whether they use stone spears or shotguns is immaterial.