TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House is advancing legislation that would allow someone to kill a bear if they feel threatened by the animal or fear that it may harm their property.

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 87 is currently being considered in the Florida Legislature

  • The bill authorizes the use of deadly force against a bear if someone feels threatened

  •  Deadly force would also be permitted to protect property

The proposal is akin to Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law," which is a controversial legal defense that allows someone to use deadly force if they feel their life is in danger. Under the bill (House Bill 87), a person feeling threatened by a bear is empowered to use deadly force to protect themselves or their property.

"If you wake up in the middle of the night and there is some dude who broke into your house and he's ripping apart your house, you can shoot him, and that's the end of the story," said Perry Republican Rep. Jason Shoaf, the bill sponsor.

The legislation advanced through its second committee stop on Friday. However, it still needs one more committee's approval before a final vote in the House. The bill will require Senate approval too, leaving the measure with three more hurdles before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis for final approval.

"From time immemorial, humans have been on top of the food chain," said Jacksonville Republican Rep. Dean Black, who supports the bill. "It's time that we restore our citizens to the top of the food chain."

Human-bear encounters are on the rise in Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the agency responded to more than 5,900 bear calls in 2022. The bulk of these encounters, the agency says, happen in North and Central Florida. 

While critics acknowledge the increase, they argue the bill is an overreaction. They're urging lawmakers, instead, to promote better trash management.

On average, FWC officials say 38 bears are euthanized every year due to public safety risks. The analysis adds that most instances are provoked by an unsecured garbage can or because the animal was being fed by a human.

"Under this bill, we are essentially saying we don't have the tools, the plan, or the time to manage the trash," said Kate MacFall, who serves as Florida director for the Humane Society of the United States

The bill does provide some protections to deter abuse. It says a person may not lure or provoke a bear to incite an attack. It also says a person who uses deadly force must notify FWC within 24 hours. Moreover, FWC must seize the bear's body after a reported incident. 

Tampa Democratic Rep. Dianne Hart is among those opposed to the proposal. On Friday, though, she suggested that the state should help purchase bear-proof trash cans for at-risk communities. 

"I get it," Hart said. "I wouldn't want to wake up with a bear in my house either. But I also believe as humans, we've taken over their habitat."