florida fish and wildlife conservation commission

Proposed Bear Hunt This Fall Would Unfold In Three Separate Four-Day Periods

FlaglerLive | June 19, 2016

The recommendation to hold the state’s second bear hunt in the past 20 years expands on a proposal from state biologists without offering hard numbers of bears that could be killed or suggesting a number of permits that could be made available or the costs of permits.

Volusia County Wants Out Of the Next Bear Hunt

FlaglerLive | May 5, 2016

The Volusia County Council on Thursday unanimously approved a “symbolic” resolution urging the commission to reinstate a prohibition on hunting Florida black bears.

Bear-Kill Quota Popped 5 Days Early:
Florida Officials Reassess Before Next Hunt

FlaglerLive | October 26, 2015

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials acknowledged the agency “underestimated the hunter success for the first day,” and said a number of scenarios from the planned week-long hunt — cut down to two days — will have to be factored into future planning.

Split Florida Conservation Commission Approves Letting Hunters Kill 10% of Bear Population in 4 Regions

FlaglerLive | September 2, 2015

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission cleared the killing of at least 320 black bears for two to seven days in October, the first bear-hunting season in two decades.

Florida Issues “Open Season” Bear-Hunting Rules as Humane Society Calls For Delay

FlaglerLive | May 13, 2015

Opponents of the proposed hunt have argued the state should consider relocating problem bears and that people need to be held more responsible for leaving out unsecured food and trash that attracts bears.

A Florida Panther Struck By a Car Last May Is Returned to the Wild After 10-Month Rehab

FlaglerLive | March 10, 2014

The 9-month-old kitten was panther was rescued in Collier County last May after a homeowner saw it drag her hind leg. She went through two surgeries and rehabilitated in a 10-acre enclosure before she was released back into the wild on March 10 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Record 769 Manatee Deaths So Far This Year Represent 15% of Endangered Population

FlaglerLive | October 31, 2013

With two months to go in the year, 769 manatee deaths have bee recorded in Florida waters, breaking the previous record of 766 set in 2010. Deaths are blamed mostly on a red tide bloom that started in southwest Florida in September 2012 and that only recently dissipated. Four manatees have died in Flagler so far this year.

Fish and Wildlife Asking Public to Report Sightings of 3 Rare Snake Species

FlaglerLive | August 14, 2013

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists are asking the public to report sightings of three rare snake species–Florida pine snake, southern hognose snake and short-tailed snake–to help with research.

Lawmakers Object As Florida Fish and Wildlife Prepares to Ban All Deer and Elk Imports

FlaglerLive | June 12, 2013

But lawmakers are joining some of Florida’s deer farmers in expressing concern that a growing industry will be harmed if a measure goes in effect imposing a blanket prohibition on the importation of live deer and elk to reduce the chance that potentially fatal Chronic Wasting Disease.

Snook Fishing Opening in Atlantic and Inland Waters

FlaglerLive | August 28, 2012

The recreational harvest season for snook opens Sept. 1 in Florida’s Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. The season remains closed in all Gulf of Mexico waters.

Share Your Florida Panther Sightings and Photos

FlaglerLive | August 15, 2012

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched a new website that makes it easy for citizens who spot Florida panthers to share the information and pictures online.

Public Mostly Rejects State Proposal for 2.7 Miles of Manatee Speed Zones in Flagler Waters

FlaglerLive | February 29, 2012

Three-quarters of the people who addressed a Florida Fish and Wildlife delegation on the proposed speed zones on the Intracoastal Waterway rejected the argument that manatees are endangered, or that further regulation is needed.

429 Manatee Deaths in 2011 Second-Highest On Record, But None Recorded in Flagler

FlaglerLive | January 4, 2012

A cold-related die-off of manatees in early 2011 set the stage for a third straight year with high numbers of deaths for manatees, following a record 766 deaths in 2010 and 429 in 2009.

Fish and Wildlife Commission Prohibits Campfires on Public Lands

FlaglerLive | June 17, 2011

As a result of ongoing wildfires, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the executive order prohibiting campfires in wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and all other lands it manages.

Black Bear, Brown Pelican and 14 Other Species Off Threatened List in Florida

FlaglerLive | June 8, 2011

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to delist the animals following a review began four years ago. The snowy egret was also removed.

In a Victory for Flagler Boaters, FWC Rejects Its Staff’s Proposed Manatee Speed Zones

FlaglerLive | June 8, 2011

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked its staff to draw up a new compromise favoring Flagler County’s position on manatee speed zones on the Intracoastal, a significant defeat for manatee advocates.

Flagler Whacks Proposed Speed Zones on Intracoastal as Manatee Advocates Protest

FlaglerLive | May 17, 2011

Tuesday’s public hearing was the latest step in months of wrangles between Flagler County and the Fish and Wildlife Commission over manatee-protecting speed zones on about a third of Flagler’s 18 miles of Intracoastal.

Why Fish & Wildlife Commission Is Keeping Strict Limits on Snook Fishing in Florida

FlaglerLive | December 6, 2010

Snook fishing was allowed this fall, Fish and Wildlife Chairman Rodney Barreto writes, but all harvesting of the fish in Florida waters will end from Dec. 15 until at least next September to better protect stock and spawning.

Revving Up Speed Zones, State Tells Flagler: Manatees More Endangered Than Boaters

FlaglerLive | September 14, 2010

A local committee had recommended mostly hand-off, unregulated speeds on the Intracoastal. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission staff rejected the approach.

Flagler Manatee Committee Report Concludes: Against Speed Zones. Just “Education.”

FlaglerLive | July 15, 2010

No surprise: a local committee stacked with boating advocates is recommending against most manatee-protecting speed-zone recommendations on the Intracoastal by a state conservation agency.