Series of virtual

public meetings

on regulated bear

hunting proposals

planned in April

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a series of virtual public meetings to collect feedback directly from Florida residents on proposals for highly regulated black bear hunting in Florida that will be presented to Commissioners at our May meeting. The FWC met with stakeholder groups and the public in March to collect their comments on potential options for highly regulated bear hunting seasons, and those comments were used to inform the hunting proposals. The content covered in all meetings is identical, and it is not necessary to attend more than one virtual public meeting.

The meeting dates and times are as follows:

    •April 2 from 12-3 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom.   To join the meeting by telephone, dial-in (if needed): +1 305 224 1968 (United States) and enter Conference ID: 96561628155#

    •April 3 from 5-8 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom.  To join the meeting by telephone, dial-in (if needed): +1 305 224 1968 (United States) and enter Conference ID: 94803064202#

    •April 5 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. EDT: Virtual meeting via Zoom. To join the meeting by telephone, dial-in (if needed): +1 305 224 1968 (United States) and enter Conference ID: 91550331906#

At the Dec. 2024 Commission Meeting, the FWC’s Bear Management Program gave Commissioners a 5-year update on implementing the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan, highlighting recent bear management and research efforts. Following the presentation, the Commissioners directed staff to return to a future Commission meeting to propose options for implementing a potential bear hunt.

The black bear population has come back from just several hundred bears in the 1970s to over 4,000 today and is one of Florida’s most successful conservation efforts.

Regulated black bear hunting occurred in Florida in the 1930s and continued until 1994. Hunting was closed until 2015, when it was reopened in the fall. No bear hunting seasons have been open since 2015.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Hunting and click on “Florida black bear.”

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Gopher tortoise

Day on the way!

It’s almost April 10 and time to ‘shellebrate’ gopher tortoises and all they do for Florida’s ecosystems.

Coexisting alongside gopher tortoises is an important part of ensuring the tortoise, and the more than 350 other species they provide shelter for in their burrows, will be around for years to come.

 Here are some ways to get involved on Gopher Tortoise Day and all year round!

    •Plan an event on or around April 10. Check out our Get Involved page for ideas or come up with your own.

    •Plan activities or lesson plans to celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day. Educational materials are available at the FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Program Education Corner and at the Florida Gopher Tortoise Day website.

    •Plan a clean-up in your community or plant gopher tortoise-friendly plants at your home to welcome your neighborhood gopher tortoises.

    •Work with local governments and organizations in your area to pass a resolution celebrating Gopher Tortoise Day. Be sure to send a copy to GTEvents@MyFWC.com so we can share it.

    •Spread the word to your social media networks by posting using #GopherTortoiseDay.

Visit the Florida Gopher Tortoise Day website for more information to help you make this year’s Gopher Tortoise Day the best one yet.

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Summer Camp

Scholarships

offer Florida youth

outdoor adventure

opportunities

The Florida Airboat Association and the Kissimmee River Valley Sportsman Association are giving Florida youth the chance to experience an unforgettable outdoor adventure through their Summer Camp Scholarships. This exciting opportunity will provide 10 children with a full scholarship to attend a week-long residential summer camp at one of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) premier outdoor youth camps.

Through this sponsorship, five girls will be selected to attend the Everglades Youth Conservation Center in West Palm Beach, while another five girls or boys will have the opportunity to attend the Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp in Ocala. Both camps focus on outdoor skills, conservation education and recreational activities such as fishing, wildlife viewing and safe firearm handling.

These scholarships are open to children ages 8 to 16, with recipients randomly chosen from submissions received at the following links to ensure fairness:

    To apply for the EYCC Scholarship, contact Arlia Alston at arlia.alston@myfwc.com

    Application for the OOAC Scholarship, contact Arlia Alston at arlia.alston@myfwc.com

Recipients will receive a scholarship covering 100% of the registration fee for one summer camp session at either EYCC or OOAC. Additionally, selected participants will be invited to participate in a youth hunt with the Youth Hunting Program of Florida, providing them with further opportunities to engage in Florida’s rich outdoor heritage.

The deadline to apply for the Summer Camp Scholarships is April 30. Parents and guardians interested in applying on behalf of their children can submit one entry per camper.