Entries Tagged Florida

Drones enter search for Florida coyote filmed chasing cat on New Year’s Day.

Wildlife officials considered the hunt a success, with the tally of 298 bears taken — very close to top range of 320 animals they hoped to harvest on this, the first bear hunt in the state in over 20 years.

With animal lovers protesting the decision to open hunting season on bears, more than 3,500 people purchased bear hunting permits, even though the cap was just 320. Officials scheduled a week for the hunt, but by Sunday the high number of bears killed surprised hunting officials.

Florida wildlife officials closed two regions after the first day of bear hunting after the areas met the limit on the number of bears allowed to be killed during the first statewide hunt in more than 20 years.

Hunters for the first time in more than 20 years will trudge through Florida woods to legally kill black bears.

Florida is one of five states that don't allow people to openly carry guns in some form. The others are South Carolina, New York, Illinois and California.

Animal protection and environmental groups are seeking an injunction to stop a bear hunt set to begin Oct. 24.

Florida wildlife officials have approved the killing of 320 black bears next month during the state's first bear hunting season in more than 20 years.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A woman is recovering after being attacked by an alligator that bit off her arm while she swam in central Florida. Rachael D. Lilienthal, 37, was swimming in Wekiva River on Saturday afternoon when the gator attacked her, biting her twice, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission spokeswoman Karen Parker. The gator bit off her arm just above the elbow. Parker said doctors were not able to reattach the arm because too much time had passed. Kayakers helped rescue the woman. One of the kayakers struck the alligator with a paddle, causing the animal to release Lilienthal. Two kayakers brought her to the marina where deputies gave her first aid. She was taken to an Orlando-area hospital. Her condition is not known. "I can understand why people are worried. To go out swimming and have something bite you that is like a nightmare scenario,'' said Parker. Wildlife officers captured the gator hours later, shortly after midnight Sunday and euthanized it. Authorities have not yet released the size or sex of the gator.

Florida's wildlife management commission started selling permits for bear hunting for the first time in two decades, despite a legal challenge to the hunt.

Wildlife officials say a worker at a central Florida ecotourism attraction was injured in an alligator attack.

Florida firearms enthusiasts will save a few dollars starting this month because of a new law that eliminates the sales tax on gun club memberships.

Wildlife authorities have been unable to find an alligator that attacked a black Labrador retriever named Haze after it chased a bird into the Hillsborough River in a Tampa park.