State plans black bear webinars

Thursday, May 26, 2016 12:04 pm

State plans black bear webinars

Dinah Voyles Pulver Gatehouse Media

http://www.dailycommercial.com/

OCALA

Floridians wanting to know more about black bear populations

in the state and another possible hunt this year might want to participate

in one of three seminars state wildlife officials are offering via the Internet over the next week.

Officials in Seminole, Volusia and Miami-Dade counties all have passed resolutions asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

to leave them out of any future bear hunts.

The Eustis City Commission also recently approved a resolution asking the FWC to reinstate the ban on bear hunting.

The FWC in October held the state’s first bear hunt in more than two decades.

The state commission is expected during

a meeting June 22 and June 23 in Apalachicola

to discuss the possibility of holding another hunt.

The October hunt saw 298 bears killed in four areas of the state,

including 139 in the central area of Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Clay, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter and Volusia counties.

Marion had the most kills with 55,

followed by Lake with 36.

Sumter had none.

The FWC plans webinars on

Thursday, on May 31

and June 2.

Wildlife officials will discuss

the state’s new bear population estimates,

P.S.

This is only their (ESTIMATE)!

No one knows for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

updated bear ranges, results of the 2015 black bear hunt

and another possible hunt this year.

The calls will also include information from

the state’s program for helping communities be

“bear wise.”

“These webinars give the public an opportunity to have their questions answered in real time,”

stated David Telesco, bear management coordinator.

“They also add to the FWC channels already in place for gathering public feedback including email, social media, phone, ASK FWC,

bear stakeholder group meetings and commission meetings.”

Registration is required for the webinar

and may be done by visiting

www.surveymonkey.com/r/FWCBear .

Each webinar begins at 6 p.m.

http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_e4fb0571-599d-54f2-9ae1-bb2f06bb2a25.html

Fill out their form here.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FWCBear