JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida wildlife officials are weighing a contentious plan to allow bear hunting in the state after four attacks on people over the past year.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is scheduled Wednesday to hear a presentation that considers a week of hunting each year to help control the population, an idea that has raised the hackles of animal rights advocates.
Florida's black bear population has rebounded from near extinction decades ago to more than 3,000, which means more human-bear interactions.
The state is looking at a number of options for controlling bear populations, including providing more bear resistant trash cans to people in high traffic areas.
Animal advocates say there's no evidence to show hunting helps reduce problems with bears.
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