Defenders' Experts
Florida Black Bear
Date Filed: 02/02/2006
Case Status: Closed
Defenders of Wildlife v. U.S. FWS
Challenge to FWS decision to deny a threatened listing of the Florida black bear. In 2002, Defenders won a lawsuit against an earlier decision denying the listing of the Florida black bear, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still had not adequately addressed the listing proposal. The Florida black bear has been reduced to nine remnant populations, occupying only 25% of its former range. Rapid urbanization and other development continue to destroy bear habitat, while additional mortality occurs from road kill, illegal poaching, and hunting.
