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Florida Black Bear Management and Policy
Defenders is developing long term recommendations to assist in managing the Florida black bear. Key areas of need are:
- Promoting federal listing of the Florida black bear
- habitat acquisition
- establishing a network of connected wildlife habitat throughout the state
- promoting sound public and private land management
- working for the protection of each Florida black bear subpopulation
Litigation to Federally List the Florida Black Bear
In 2006, as part of its long-standing efforts to secure federal protection for the Florida black bear, Defenders and a coalition of conservation organizations again challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision not to list the species under the Endangered Species Act.
A previous decision by FWS refusing to list the species as threatened had already been overturned by a successful Defenders lawsuit in 2000, but in 2004 the agency again refused the needed ESA protections.
The primary threat to the Florida black bear is habitat loss caused by urbanization and sprawling development. With destruction of the black bear’s forested habitat expected to accelerate in coming years, management under the Endangered Species Act will help the people of Florida recover a valuable part of their wildlife heritage.
Florida Black Bear Denied Federal Protection
“The FWS appears to have ignored the escalation in habitat threats and road mortality of bears and even write off several populations like the Chassahowitza,” said Mike Senatore, wildlife counsel at Defenders of Wildlife. “There is absolutely no reason legally or scientifically not to list the bear.” Learn more.
Conservation Strategy for the Black Bear in Florida
This Conservation Strategy identifies actions needed to perpetuate black bears in Florida over the long-term. It was developed from input by a diverse group of stakeholders representing 13 organizations, which ranged from state to federal agencies and from resource utilization associations to environmental groups. In this Conservation Strategy, the stakeholders establish goals for population management, habitat conservation, and public awareness and support. Learn more.
Black Bear Habitat Management Guidelines for Florida
The fragmented and patchy arrangement of black bear populations throughout Florida is a daunting management challenge in this developed state. Successful management prescriptions must consider highly variable food habitats as well as the effects of fire, timber management, and expanding development on this Threatened species. Learn more.
Landscape Linkages and Conservation Planning for the Black Bear in West-Central Florida
The greater Chassahowitzka black bear population is the smallest documented in North America with fewer than 20 individuals. Its future depends on landscape linkages with other bear populations that are separated by denatured habitat.
Learn more.
Effectiveness of a Regional Corridor in Connecting Two Florida Black Bear Populations
Corridors may mitigate the adverse effects of habitat fragmentation by restoring or maintaining connectivity between disjunctive populations. We used noninvasive sampling, microsatellite analysis, and population assignment tests to evaluate the effectiveness of a regional corridor in connecting two Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) populations (Osceola and Ocala). Bear movement was predominantly unidirectional, with a limited mixing of individuals from the two populations in one area of the corridor.
Learn more.
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