FWC proposes black bear hunting rules

FWC approves new highly

regulated black bear hunting

proposed rule amendments

At this week’s Commission meeting in Ocala, Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to approve proposed amendments to bear hunting rules for advertising in the Florida Administrative Register. The rule proposals are expected to be brought back before the Commission at its Aug. 2025 meeting for a final hearing and, if the final rules are approved, most changes would take effect during the 2025-26 hunting season.

At its December 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.

FWC staff presented bear hunt options at the May 2025 Commission meeting, which were developed with input from stakeholder groups and public meetings on March 13 and April 2, 3 and 5. Between Dec. 6, 2024, and April 20, 2025, staff received and compiled more than 3,900 comments from the public on this topic. An online comment tool was also open from April 2 to 20, 2025, resulting in more than 13,000 unique responses.

“The resurgence of the Florida black bear is not just a victory for conservationists; it’s a win for all Floridians,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.   “Hunting is a biologically sound method to slow population growth, resulting in a healthy and well-managed Florida black bear population for the future.”

Hunting would allow the FWC to start managing population growth rates for the Bear Management Units, or BMUs, with the largest bear subpopulations. Balancing species population growth with suitable habitat helps to maintain a healthy population. Hunting is an important and effective tool for managing wildlife populations around the world, but it is important to acknowledge that managing bear populations does not manage human-bear conflicts. Conflict prevention and bear management practices will still need to continue regardless of whether Commissioners approve final rules for reopening regulated bear hunting in the future.

For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions about this topic, visit MyFWC.com/BearHunting. To learn more about black bears and how to avoid conflicts with them, visit BearWise.org.

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FWC Commissioners approve proposed rule changes for nonnative species, including invasive green iguanas

At their May 21 meeting, Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved staff recommendations to advertise proposed rule changes for nonnative species, including Prohibited green iguanas, with no further hearing unless requested. Green iguanas are invasive reptiles that are not native to Florida.  

The approved rule changes will allow and activate more Floridians to collect invasive, live green iguanas from their established range within the state and to facilitate sale of those live green iguanas out of Florida. The proposed rule changes also provide an allowance for transfer of live wild-caught green iguanas to permit holders who are authorized to sell live green iguanas out of state.  

Additional changes to Chapter 68-5, Florida Administrative Code also address: 

• Qualifications for sales of live green iguanas.
• Caging requirements for captive juvenile green iguanas and tegus. 
• Prohibited species pet permits. 
• Additional options for FWC Law Enforcement for placement of Prohibited species with exhibition facilities operating out of residential properties. 
• Defining the term “transshipment.”
• To obtain feedback on the proposed rule changes, staff with the FWC’s Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program obtained input from the Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Technical Assistance Group, hosted six virtual public meetings to present proposed changes and gather input from stakeholders, and further solicited input from the public through an online comment form and email address.  

“Addressing the threats of invasive species in Florida is a priority for the FWC, but we can’t do it alone,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Approving these rule changes further empowers our stakeholders to get directly involved in removing green iguanas from the state, a win for Floridians and our native plants and wildlife.”

Invasive species management is a high priority for the FWC because these animals negatively impact native fish and wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and can pose a threat to human health and safety. To learn more about invasive species in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Nonnatives. 

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Nonnatives and click on Proposed Rule Change.  

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With intent to streamline licensing process

FWC proposes Phase II

changes to Marine Special

Activity License program

At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed Phase II changes to improve the Marine Special Activity License program. 

Some of the proposed changes include: 

• Updating and making clarifications to streamline the licensing process.
• Updating eligibility requirements.
• Establishing general license conditions and restrictions for all SAL types.
• Clarifying the definition of prohibited species.
• Providing additional transparency to applicants on the genetic risk assessment for release activities. 

This is the start of the second phase of changes for updating the rules governing the Marine SAL program. The Commission approved Phase I changes at the December 2024 meeting. Staff will continue to gather public feedback on Phase II changes and will return to the Commission in November for a final public hearing with any additional changes. 

We encourage all interested parties who would like to provide feedback on proposed changes to the Marine SAL program rules to submit comments through MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or email them to Marine@MyFWC.com. 

For the full Commission Meeting May 21-22 agenda, including links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/About and click on “The Commission” and “Commission Meetings.”

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