Residents of Foxborough Farms neighborhood in Apopka were faced with a grim discovery earlier this month when a nearly 500-pound black bear was found shot to death. Bill Lueckfeld, living close to Wekiwa Springs State Park, where wildlife sightings are common, stumbled upon the bear while out with his dogs on the evening of June 6, as WFLA reported.
A rain had just passed, fueling Lueckfeld’s original belief that the bear's demise might have been caused by a car. Investigators, though, would find a bullet hole, indicating a different tale of its end, in its lung. He shared with WESH, "These animals, in my opinion, are majestic. They're a powerful animal. They're docile in a sense, as long as you leave them alone, and this is their habitat." Emphasizing his stance, he added, "We don't want these animals harmed. We don't want to see them dead. We love seeing them as they roam around the neighborhoods."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is now conducting an investigation to uncover the circumstances behind the shooting. This incident gains additional significance against the troubling backdrop of legislation pending Governor Ron DeSantis' signature, which would allow residents to shoot bears deemed "an imminent threat." According to the bill's proponent, Rep. Jason Shoaf, the measure intends to "Give Floridians the right to protect their homes, their pets, and themselves and their families in case of a black bear attack," as relayed by WESH.
Lueckfeld contests the bill's necessity, fearing it may encourage harmful behavior towards the local bear population as noted by FOX 13. "You don't need to get rid of the bears. The bears are here and they're going to stay here until we keep pushing them out. And, hopefully, we don’t," he said. As for deterring bear encounters, officials advise securing trash cans and employing noise, such as yelling or an air horn, to scare them away.
Concerns run high about the broader consequences of the proposed self-defense law, drawing parallels to the controversial "stand your ground" policies for human interactions. With the state on the brink of crafting new narratives in its discourse with nature, those finding themselves in the presence of a bear are urged to call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 for assistance with injured, orphaned, or dead bears.
