Bear Warriors United

Stories

Appeals court voids manatee habitat ruling after 'harm' definition rescinded

As of October 2026: Plaintiff; case remanded

A federal appeals court threw out a ruling that blamed Florida's sewage permits for manatee deaths in the northern Indian River Lagoon. The Fish and Wildlife Service had rescinded the Endangered Species Act's definition of 'harm,' which for 40 years treated habitat damage as an illegal 'take.'

Updated Oct 10

Florida’s black bear hunt returns: science, politics and a once–threatened species

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Claims permit buyouts contributed to low 2025 harvest

Florida launched a state-sanctioned black bear hunt on December 6, 2025, the first since 2015. The state allowed 172 lottery-selected permit holders to kill one bear each across four hunting zones. Only 52 bears were harvested by season's end on December 28, per FWC data released December 29.

Updated May 10