Florida advances plan to bring back bear hunting; Collier residents weigh in
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Hunters and hikers warned to stay out of border military zone
By KOB
Updated: May 20, 2025 – 3:19 PM
Published: May 20, 2025 – 3:00 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico hunters and hikers may want to reconsider any trips they have planned near the southern border.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defense told USA Today that hunting and hiking in the new national defense area along the southern border is now banned.
KOB 4 reached out to the Department of Defense to verify that information and get further details. A spokesperson responded with a previous statement from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth which he made in April.
“This is Department of Defense property,” Hegseth said. “Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base — a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by U.S. troops and border patrol working together.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich sent a letter to the Department of Defense last week with several questions on how U.S. citizens would be impacted by the new national defense area.
Today, a spokesperson for Senator Heinrich told KOB 4 there has been no formal response to that letter. Senator Heinrich issued his own response to the USA Today report in a statement to KOB 4.
“To tell New Mexicans that they will now be arrested for hiking and hunting on the land they have forged their identities on is deeply insulting and un-American,” said Senator Heinrich. “These are places where families have returned year after year to hunt quail, teach their kids how to track Coues deer, and find peace and perspective in the stillness of the desert. These landscapes hold our stories, our traditions, and our sense of belonging. We cannot and will not let this stand.”
The Trump administration transferred oversight of a strip of land along the U.S.-Mexico border last month to the military, allowing federal prosecutors to charge migrants with trespassing on military land.
A federal judge in Las Cruces dismissed dozens of military trespassing charges last week ruling there was little evidence that migrants saw any signs warning about the new national defense area.
FWC meeting heats up after approval of controversial black bear hunt
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Mad cow disease confirmed on Essex farm
https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/20/mad-cow-disease-confirmed-essex-farm-23118925/
Published May 20, 2025 10:29am Updated May 20, 2025 4:55pm
A single case of mad cow disease has been confirmed on a farm in Essex.
The disease causes damage to the central nervous system in cows and eventually kills them.
The government said the cow was humanely put down and there was no risk to public health or food safety because it was not going to enter the food chain.
Mad cow disease, also known as Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is a non-contagious disease in cows which is different from ‘classical’ BSE, which is linked to contaminated feed.
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Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: ‘A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime.
‘Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations.
‘This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.’
Inside the previous outbreak of Mad cow disease
According to the CDC, the first two cases of BSE were identified in cows in 1986 in the United Kingdom. The cows were likely infected in the 1970s.
The U.K. quickly became the epicentre of the outbreak. Overall, more than 184,000 cows in the U.K. died from BSE between 1986 and 2015. The outbreak was widespread, with more than 35,000 U.K. herds affected.
Cases peaked in 1993 at nearly 1,000 new cases per week. Cases decreased drastically after control measures were implemented. BSE cases are still reported occasionally, but are very rare.
Early efforts to control the BSE outbreak focused on culling (killing) sick animals to prevent them from entering the food chain.
The UK implemented the most stringent control measure – excluding animals >30 months old from the human and animal food supplies. It also included a ban on using meat from around the animals’ spinal columns since prions affect the nervous system. The programs – along with bans in other countries – have prevented additional BSE outbreaks.
Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the Food Standards Agency, offered reassurance and said: ‘There is no food safety risk.
‘There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.
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‘Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency official veterinarians and meat hygiene inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority.’
Millions of cattle were culled in the UK in the 1990s during a BSE epidemic.
There was a peak of 100,000 confirmed cases in 1992/93 and it is estimated that around 180,000 cows were affected.
To try and stop the spread of the disease at the time, around 4.4 million cows were killed.
Professional deer hunter sues DNR officer, alleging malicious prosecution
Florida bear hunt decision looms: See where black bears may be harvested
GRAPHICS
Florida black bearsAdd Topic
USA TODAY
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to make a final decision on a Florida black bear hunting season for 2025 in its meeting May 21-22 in Ocala.
This decision follows a public review period and a draft proposal that outlines a possible harvest quota of 187 bears across 31 counties for three weeks in December. The wildlife conservation commission initially sought public input in March through a virtual public meeting.
The commissioners say they believe reopening black bear hunting will regulate the population and manage growth rates. It would be the first black bear hunting season since 2015.
Florida’s last black bear hunt was in 2015, the first in 20 years, and was marred by controversy. There were reports of unlicensed hunters. Originally intended to be a regulated seven-day event, the hunt was closed after just two days due to the rapid harvest of bears. Violations of the hunt’s rules occurred, including the killing of cubs and pregnant females. Additionally, some hunters were caught using bait, which had been prohibited.https://e.infogram.com/_/zUFzpMSRXE3KfsHI01OB?src=embed#async_embed
The Florida black bear population
Black bears are the only species of bear found in Florida. The best scientifically valid population estimates are from 2015 and indicate there are about 4,050 bears statewide.https://e.infogram.com/_/cTy2JPN5lIAWcNdp5xri?src=embed#async_embed
Where is bear hunting being proposed in Florida?
The plan is to issue 187 permits to harvest black bears from 31 counties divided into four bear management areas. The hunting zones would exist in areas where the bear population exceeds 200.
Sixty-eight bears will be permitted for harvest from 11 eastern panhandle counties, including Franklin, Leon and Wakulla; 18 bears from 12 Central Florida counties; 46 from five North Florida counties; and 55 from Lee, Collier and Hendry counties.https://e.infogram.com/_/cjpAv4ytJRn73PJtzHna?src=embed#async_embed
When will the Florida bear hunting season take place?
The wildlife commission is considering a hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28.https://e.infogram.com/_/LtBw2mKwAajQ8D3lkXIf?src=embed#async_embed
Black bears killed each year in Florida
Number of bears killed statewide by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death from 2005 to 2024, totaling 5,967 bears.https://e.infogram.com/_/ifDuKirFFkxkGxTxY499?src=embed#async_embed
What to know about the bear hunt proposal
There will be a $5 application fee to enter a random drawing for a permit. If drawn, permits will cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for out-of-state hunters.
One bear is allowed per permit, and the wildlife commission must be notified within 24 hours of a bear being taken. A tag must be attached to the bear’s body before it can be removed.
Hunters may use all archery equipment, muzzle-loading guns, shotguns, centerfire, rifles, revolvers and pistols and pre-charge pneumatic air guns to harvest bears.
The wildlife commission says black bears are not generally aggressive, but like any wild animal, they can become defensive if they feel threatened. If anyone encounters an injured, orphaned or dead bear, or observes someone harming bears or feeding them, call the commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website to read the entire draft proposal for the black bear hunt.
TWRA rescues, releases 3 orphaned bear cubs
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TWRA:
17 hours ago
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. — On the morning of May 18, 2025, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to a report of a sow black bear that had been struck and killed by a vehicle along U.S. Highway 19E in Sullivan County. The response led to the successful rescue and release of three orphaned bear cubs into a remote area of the Cumberland Mountains.
TWRA received the initial call around 7:00 a.m. and had personnel enroute within 30 minutes. By 8:30 a.m., officers were on the scene, but no cubs were immediately visible. Additional staff arrived with trapping equipment, and the deceased female bear was removed from the accident site. Three traps were then set in the area.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., a local resident provided a video showing three bear cubs on the same side of the road as the traps and the sow. This visual confirmation verified that the animals were indeed cubs and not older yearlings.
The first cub was safely captured shortly after the video was shared, and by 4:00 p.m., all three cubs had been secured.
They were then transported to a Wildlife Management Area for evaluation and temporary care.
The cubs—two females and one male—appear to be in good health and are considered large for their age, each weighing around 12 pounds. They are able to climb trees, are wary of humans, and have been eating well. “While this is not an ideal situation, our goal is to give these cubs the best possible chance at survival,” said TWRA Bear Program Manager Dan Gibbs. “We have released them in a low-density bear area with minimal human presence to maximize their chances of adapting and thriving in the wild.”
TWRA is continuing to coordinate with Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR); however, ABR is currently unable to accept cubs at this time.
The agency urges drivers to stay alert in areas with frequent wildlife crossings, especially in spring and summer when bear activity increases, and to follow BearWise practices to prevent bears from crossing roads in search of human food.
For more news across the state, click here.
‘Stop the Hunt’: Protesters push back against proposed Florida black bear hunt
Protesters in Fort Myers call for conservation and say people – not bears – are the problem
Photo by: Austin Schargorodski
Posted 3:14 PM, May 17, 2025
FORT MYERS, Fla — Protesters were out in Fort Myers on Saturday, standing against Florida’s proposed black bear hunt. Fox 4’s Austin Schargorodski was on the corner of US-41 and Daniels to hear firsthand why they’re speaking out.
Watch to hear what protesters said:
Protesters stood on the sidewalk with signs like “Stop the Hunt” and “I Am Not Your Trophy.” They said they’re calling for the protection of black bears instead of a renewed hunt.
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Some there argued that people are the real intruders — not bears. “We are breaking into their habitat. They are not intruders – we are. So it’s kind of cruel, selfish and hypocritical to go hey, now let’s start shooting bears,” one protester said.
Protesters also suggested proper education and bear-proof trashcans as solutions to prevent conflicts.
“Implement that in neighborhoods and then you don’t have the bear conflicts. Bears don’t come in unless they’re smelling food,” another protester said.
However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the black bear population has rebounded from just a few hundred in the 70’s to more than 4,000 today.
They say without management, bears could encroach on neighborhoods – and a regulated hunt could help balance growth with available habitat. Florida banned bear hunting in 1994 – but reopened it briefly in 2015. No hunts have been held since.
Now, FWC will present these proposals and public feedback at their May 21st and 22nd meeting.
Ohio’s Wild Turkey Hunting Season Results Through May 11
Information provided
COLUMBUS – Wild turkey hunters across Ohio have checked 14,355 birds in the spring 2025 season as of Sunday, May 11, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
This year’s statewide total represents 23 days of hunting in the 83 counties that comprise the south zone, nine days of hunting in the northeast zone, and the 1,740 turkeys taken over the two-day youth hunting weekend, April 12-13.
Hunters checked an average of 13,128 turkeys by the corresponding date in the previous three seasons (2022 to 2024) and reported 14,377 birds at this point in 2024.
The 10 counties with the highest totals for wild turkey harvest so far in the 2025 spring season: Belmont (425), Monroe (422), Guernsey (393), Muskingum (377), Tuscarawas (366), Carroll (363), Columbiana (354), Meigs (348), Harrison (347), and Coshocton (344).
The Division of Wildlife has issued 51,822 spring turkey permits that are valid throughout the 2025 season. Ohio’s spring turkey hunting season in the 83 counties comprising the south zone is open until Sunday, May 18. Hunting in the northeast zone is open until Sunday, June 1. Statewide, turkey hunting is now permitted from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. The season bag limit is one bearded turkey. Find more information in Ohio’s 2024-25 hunting and trapping regulations booklet.
Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license in addition to a spring turkey permit, unless exempted. Successful hunters are required to game-check their turkey no later than 11:30 p.m. on the day of harvest. Game check, licenses, and permits are available on the HuntFish OH app, via the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, or at a participating license agent. Game check can also be completed by phone at 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (877-824-4864).
Find more information about Ohio’s wild turkey hunting at wildohio.gov.
FINAL RESULTS
A list of all wild turkeys checked by hunters in each county through Sunday, May 11, 2025, is shown below. Results include 23 days of hunting in the south zone, nine days in the northeast zone, and the two-day youth season. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2025, and the three-year average (2022 to 2024) through the corresponding dates is in parentheses. The three-year average represents 16 days of hunting in the northeast zone compared to nine in the 2025 total because of a later start date this year. The numbers below are raw data and subject to change.
Adams: 331 (312); Allen: 77 (65); Ashland: 156 (153); Ashtabula: 333 (341); Athens: 223 (256); Auglaize: 45 (39); Belmont: 425 (355); Brown: 295 (261); Butler: 150 (173); Carroll: 363 (292); Champaign: 61 (72); Clark: 21 (22); Clermont: 244 (233); Clinton: 69 (58); Columbiana: 354 (316); Coshocton: 344 (306); Crawford: 47 (50); Cuyahoga: 7 (8); Darke: 58 (60); Defiance: 209 (163); Delaware: 68 (76); Erie: 39 (34); Fairfield: 65 (86); Fayette: 10 (8); Franklin: 23 (14); Fulton: 147 (113); Gallia: 312 (347); Geauga: 138 (178); Greene: 30 (24); Guernsey: 393 (327); Hamilton: 71 (96); Hancock: 56 (35); Hardin: 82 (85); Harrison: 347 (312); Henry: 60 (51); Highland: 312 (275); Hocking: 176 (200); Holmes: 204 (182); Huron: 87 (75); Jackson: 271 (216); Jefferson: 329 (319); Knox: 231 (199); Lake: 46 (43); Lawrence: 222 (189); Licking: 239 (236); Logan: 108 (116); Lorain: 122 (97); Lucas: 73 (57); Madison: 4 (6); Mahoning: 224 (161); Marion: 52 (32); Medina: 98 (94); Meigs: 348 (319); Mercer: 31 (22); Miami: 40 (28); Monroe: 422 (352); Montgomery: 21 (29); Morgan: 222 (215); Morrow: 123 (121); Muskingum: 377 (351); Noble: 299 (292); Ottawa: 1 (1); Paulding: 77 (65); Perry: 208 (232); Pickaway: 16 (15); Pike: 189 (180); Portage: 283 (183); Preble: 107 (115); Putnam: 55 (32); Richland: 196 (190); Ross: 238 (238); Sandusky: 45 (25); Scioto: 297 (212); Seneca: 122 (103); Shelby: 46 (34); Stark: 271 (225); Summit: 60 (46); Trumbull: 269 (273); Tuscarawas: 366 (369); Union: 41 (45); Van Wert: 14 (17); Vinton: 231 (192); Warren: 72 (72); Washington: 324 (319); Wayne: 104 (91); Williams: 244 (191); Wood: 31 (23); Wyandot: 114 (93).
2025 total: 14,355
3-year average total: 13,128
Exposing the Big Game 
