Bears

The proposed rules include a lottery-style permitting process, up to 187 bears being killed in four areas of the state, and guidelines to encourage hunters to kill males.

A final vote will come next month on plans for the state’s first bear hunt in a decade. We delve into those plans on Speaking Of.

State wildlife officials will hear a proposal next week to create an annual black bear hunt. The proposed December hunt would be the first in over a decade.

Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, says his bill is needed because of an increase in bears venturing into residential areas of his sprawling North Florida district.

Disney closed but soon reopened Liberty Square, Adventureland and Frontierland, which includes the Country Bear Jamboree.

Rural areas of Leon County are hot spots for bear encounters, and state and local officials are urging residents to get bear-proof garbage containers. The…