‘Barbaric’: wildlife advocates criticize Florida bear hunt proposal

Controversial plans could see the slaughter of almost 200 black bears, about 5% of the state’s estimated total

It’s tough to be a bear in Florida these days, where only a year ago a Republican state congressman was accusing the ursine population of shooting up crack cocaine and trashing people’s houses.

Then came a controversial new law that allows anybody to shoot and kill any bear perceived as a threat without fear of consequences, which animal advocates say could be bad news for any creature that inadvertently wanders into a back yard.