As Florida’s largest conservation nonprofit, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida believes that transparency and collaboration are essential to protecting our state’s wildlife and wild places. In light of public concern over the proposed Florida black bear hunt, we want to clarify our role and how we support conservation statewide.
The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is the official citizen support organization for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Our role is to raise funds and provide resources that enhance FWC’s work in conservation, research, and education.
We are not involved in policy making or regulatory decisions, including those related to hunting, they’re made solely by FWC. These decisions are informed by long-term monitoring of wildlife populations and a public consultation process. This ensures that wildlife management strategies reflect both the best available science and the input of Floridians.
The Florida black bear is a prime example of a species that has benefitted from this approach. Once nearly eliminated in the state due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting, black bears have made a strong recovery thanks to science-based management and conservation efforts led by FWC and its partners.
As populations rebound, new management challenges arise. In areas where bear populations have grown significantly, human-bear conflicts can become more frequent. Regulated hunting is one of several tools wildlife agencies use to help maintain healthy population levels, reduce conflict, and support broader ecosystem balance. When used, this tool is applied with care and grounded in research to ensure the long-term sustainability of the species.
While the Foundation does not take positions on hunting regulations, we do support black bear conservation through fundraising and grantmaking. One major source of funding is the “Conserve Wildlife” specialty license plate, which features the Florida black bear. By state law, the bear must appear on the plate, but the funds raised benefit a wide range of species and habitats across Florida.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased the “Conserve Wildlife” license plate, our Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants to support Florida black bear conservation. These funds have helped reduce human-bear conflict by providing bear-resistant dumpsters and trash cans, supported the construction of rehabilitation facilities for orphaned bear cubs, and funded FWC’s BearWise program, which teaches communities how to coexist safely and responsibly with bears.
Other grant dollars from this plate have supported conservation efforts for other imperiled species like the Florida grasshopper sparrow, Florida panther, and eastern indigo snake.
The Foundation’s focus remains on supporting conservation. We recognize that Floridians hold a range of views on hunting and wildlife management, and we encourage all interested individuals to engage with FWC’s public processes to share their perspectives. Our mission is to ensure that Florida’s wildlife and wild places thrive for generations to come.
