Florida approves its first black bear hunt in a decade to manage a growing bear population.

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved the state's first black bear hunt in a decade, set to take place in December. The hunt aims to manage the growing bear population, estimated at over 4,000 bears. Despite opposition, 187 permits will be issued through a lottery system, with strict rules including no hunting of cubs or females with cubs. The decision has sparked debate over the effectiveness and necessity of the hunt, with opponents advocating for non-lethal conflict management methods.