Animal rights group's lawsuit challenges Florida bear hunt

A conservation group has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from holding the state’s first bear hunt in a decade.

Bear Warriors United filed the 15-page lawsuit Wednesday in Leon County circuit court, contending the commission violated several legal requirements, including approving a hunt using “obsolete” bear population numbers. The 23-day hunt, approved by the commission last month, is scheduled to start Dec. 6.

Bear Warriors United cited what is known as a state “bear management plan” and the commission’s approval for hunters to kill up to 187 bears during the period.