Florida black bear removed from threatened list

Post date: Jun 16, 2011 9:06:29 PM

The Florida black bear and 15 other species were removed from the state's threatened species list on June 8.

Posted: Friday, June 10, 2011 11:58 am

Florida black bear removed from threatened list Associated Press

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) – The iconic Florida black bear and 15 other species, including the brown pelican, white ibis, snowy egret and alligator snapping turtle, lost their threatened status on June 8 because studies show they are no longer at high risk of extinction.

The native bear, considered threatened since 1974, was among 16 removed from the state imperiled species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A study found that the bear's numbers had increased from 500 in the 1950s to more than 2,000 in the early part of this decade.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to remove the 16 species from the list, but the change will not take place officially until they come up with a management plan. That could open the door to bear hunting in Florida, which was banned in 1994.

``This is a time for celebration,'' said Commissioner Rodney Barreto.

Not everyone, though, was celebrating.

Jennifer Hobgood, Florida director of the Humane Society of the United States, said the bears are at risk of inbreeding because they live in isolated groups. They should remain protected until those groups can be connected and interaction with humans is reduced, she said.

Since 1998, the bear's image has been featured on the state's ``Conserve Wildlife'' specialty license plate, which has generated about $500,000 per year for wildlife commission programs.

The delisting is the result of a directive by the commission to its staff in 2007 to revise the imperiled species system. Since then staffers have conducted biological status reviews for 61 species considered threatened or of special concern that had not been reviewed in the past decade.

``We are relying on the biologists who are experts on the species,'' said Commissioner Brian Yablonksi. ``These management plans will have the force of law.''

He noted the commission removed the bald eagle from protection several years ago and said its management plan provides strong conservation measures for the national symbol.

The board also voted to retain 40 species on the threatened list. The five remaining species will temporarily remain on the special concern list because insufficient information has been gathered so far to make a determination of their status.

The state action does not affect federally protected species such as the American alligator, Florida panther and manatee.

The commission also revised an existing management plan for the gopher tortoise to help reduce landowner costs.

Those changes include reducing monitoring requirements for owners who have relocated tortoises on their property. A modified conservation permit includes an on-site relocation options for roads, public schools and other public projects that are next to public conservation lands.