Everglades landscape; file photo
Everglades landscape; file photo · AndrewKPepper · CC BY-SA 4.0 · File photo; display crop

The story in brief

WUSF reports that a Florida wildlife commission program permits earlier bear hunting on qualifying private properties spanning at least 5,000 contiguous acres. Landowners must undertake conservation work to qualify. Commission bear coordinator Michael Orlando argues that the program encourages habitat preservation and helps manage population growth. Environmental lawyer Clay Henderson objects to private-land hunting and feeding stations, while former wildlife manager John Organ supports limited hunting as a population management tool.