Florida lawmakers call for bear hunts after women attacked

State Rep. Jason Brodeur sends letter to Florida wildlife officials

ORLANDO, Fla. – Several Central Florida lawmakers signed a letter sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, requesting bear hunts following two recent attacks on humans in Seminole County.

[READ:  Letter calling for bear hunt sent to FWC]

Florida House of Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, who's represented eastern Seminole County since 2012 wrote a letter to FWC "in light of the latest incidents involving human and bear interaction."

In the letter, Brodeur said he'd like FWC to address a proposal for "select hunts in the hot spot areas," along with a proposal having waste management companies to provide "bearproof" trash cans.

The letter was signed by 12 Florida lawmakers, including state Rep. Ritch Workman, who represents southern Brevard County and state Rep. Eric Einsnaugle, who represents Orange County.

FWC tells Local 6 it is open to ideas and will take the lawmakers' letter into consideration.

Florida prohibited most bear hunting in 1971 when black bears were considered a threatened species.  All bear hunting in Florida was halted in 1994.

The black bear was officially listed by the state as a threatened species in 1974.

Black bears are very common in the Ocala National Forest and parts of Orange and Seminole counties.

The two attacks most recent attacks occurred in Seminole County.  Earlier this month, Terri Frana, 44, was mauled in a gated community near the Wekiva woodlands.

In December, Susan Chalfant, 54, was attacked while walking her dogs in a gated community near Markham Woods Road in Longwood.

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