Bears endangered

Florida bears face certain extinction, authorized and promoted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

These animals help bring balance to the environment and rarely pose danger to people.

My wife and I spend part of the year in Colorado. Bears are part of the habitat, and we have had an occasional bear on our front deck. We hike in the mountains near us and rarely have we had bear encounters. The ones we have had have never been threatening. Taking the precautions urged by the FWC staff can reduce risky human/bear contact.

As for those who wish to kill bears in such numbers, we wonder why they would contribute to the elimination of the state’s future bear population.

There may be a time when a bear hunt would be a positive and scientifically sound activity. But with the planned hunts that time will never come.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Bears endangered."