A Florida black bear was shot 16 times in a Florida neighborhood. The mother bear had been previously seen around Sanford, Florida with her two cubs. The two cubs have not been located. Residents in the neighborhood say that the bear was shot by someone attempting to protect a dog. This has not been confirmed. 

Source: FOX 35 Orlando/YouTube

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials responded to the shooting. Footage from a security camera revealed that 16 shots had been fired. Sadly, the FWC reported that the mother bear required euthanization due to the injuries she had sustained.

In Florida, it is against the law to kill a bear unless previous authorization has been received from the FWC. Violators can face penalties including up to a year in jail and/or 1,000 dollars in fines. FWC officials told local news that the only exception to the law is if the bear is shot to save the life of a human. No charges have yet been made in the horrifying death of the mother bear. Officials are now searching for the two cubs. The cubs are believed to be old enough to survive on their own.

Florida black bears are a subspecies of the widespread American black bears, which are found in Florida as well as southern portions of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida. Florida black bears eat a mostly vegetarian diet. They are rarely aggressive unless they are defending themselves or their young.

However, residents are advised to avoid actions that may attract bears. Bears may be drawn to human spaces by unsecured trash or other food sources. If a bear spends too much time near humans, they may lose their fear of people, putting themselves and humans at risk.

The FWC advises deterring black bears by securing trash in bear-proof containers and eliminating other possible food sources that may attract bears. If bears are seen near homes, stay far away and use loud noises to scare the bears away. Never approach or attempt to interact with bears or their cubs. Additionally, keep dogs and other animals secured and away from bears and their cubs. 

Sign this petition to Stop the Legal Slaughter of Black Bears!

Ahimsa by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content: 

• Bear Cub Adopted in Rare and Adorable Occurrence 
• Canadian Man Fined for Shooting Bear in National Park
• Mini Pig Fends Off Black Bear, Protects Farm Animals on Vancouver Island
• Marineland Theme Park Charged Over Black Bear Treatment
• Hooray! Six Poachers Arrested for Electrocuting Baby Bear and Mother

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!