Gov. Rick Scott’s Cronies Reject Science Again: Bloody Bear Hunt Continues

 

 

BY SAM FIELDS

 

 

Gov. Rick Scott and his political thugs have once again put science on the back burner to protect the agenda of their political allies.

This time it’s The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) where, notwithstanding science, they are going to put through another cruel and disastrous bear hunt on Wednesday June 22.

Make no doubt about it, the fix is in.

bears two

This is nothing new for Scott and this retinue of anti-science Neanderthals.

Previously Scott claimed that Republican restrictions on a woman’s right to control her body were somehow medically sound.  This opinion flew in the face of just about every medical professional exposing the governor’s anti-women agenda.

More recently Scott prohibited the Department of Environmental Protection scientists from using the terms “global warming” or “climate change”. Violate that dictum and you wake up with a desk in The Dry Tortugas.

The latest attack on science is coming from the hunting lobby—think The National Rifle Association—who find killing bears a great substitute for not being able to “get it up”. Unable to state that publicly, they call it a humane method of bear population control.

Typically these kinds of bureaucratic rule making procedures are big yawners. But as evidenced by what happened in 2015, the media and the public are not happy about shooting Yogi and Boo Boo for the fun of it.

To pretend they are interested in the public’s input, FWC is holding one public hearing. To make sure that the public won’t be able to voice its input, they decided to hold it Wednesday June 22 at 8:30 am in Eastpoint.

For the 99.99% of us who have never heard of Eastpoint, it’s in Franklin County. For the 98% of us who are unfamiliar with Franklin County, it’s up on the Big Bend with a population of 11,500. I’m sure the only reason they are having it in Eastpoint is because it may be illegal to hold it in Tonawanda, New York.

If anyone of the public does show up at the meeting, FWC has made it clear, “the Chairman reserves the right to designate the amount of time given to each speaker, including time donation to other speakers.”

Translation: We don’t give a crap about your opinion.

Despite this attempt to quietly slip this under the finish line, on June 4 the FWC received a well-reasoned and documented letter from three bear experts — Dr. Mathew Aresco, Joseph Guthrie and Dr. Joseph Travis of FSU’s Department of Biological Sciences.

These scientists describe how this additional bear hunting, when added into the annual losses from poachers, car accidents, disease and old age, will threaten the future bear population. It calls for postponing the 2016 hunt and establishing more sanctuaries based on real scientific evidence

In response to their paper, the Sun-Sentinel editorialized against a new bear hunt.

So did the Palm Beach Post, which noted that no one really knows how many black bears are in Florida.  “The fix isn’t to give gun enthusiasts and trophy hunters another field day. It’s to spread the use of bear-resistant garbage cans and to create black bear sanctuaries,” the Post opined.

Nick Wiley, the Executive Director of the FWC, brushed off the Post’s criticism, denouncing the study and its authors.  Wiley belittled the scientists to the Post, saying that “their expertise lies mostly in turtles, guppies and killifish.”

Wiley may not care about accurately counting bears unless they are hanging on the wall.  But as a lifelong bureaucrat, he knows how to count the votes on the FWC, an agency of Scott appointees.

It may be a bit late in the game, but if you have feelings about this issue contact Nick Wiley at: nick.wiley@myfwc.com. And do it by Tuesday.



14 Responses to “Gov. Rick Scott’s Cronies Reject Science Again: Bloody Bear Hunt Continues”

  1. HillaryIn2016And2020 says:

    “The latest attack on science is coming from the hunting lobby—think The National Rifle Association—who find killing bears a great substitute for not being able to “get it up”.

    Reports are circling that Governor Rick Scott only has a 2 inch erect * ion!

  2. Stormwatch says:

    FWC is a joke. As clearly evidenced by their reaction to the gator attack at Disney. Im sick of these idiots who keep opining that alligators dont normally attack humans. Except for the 16 deaths in the last 20 years and the dozens of other injuries.
    If anyone at FWC actually cared about these bears this hunt would not be happening. Not to mention that Rick Scott is a despicable human being. Rick Scott, WTC, NRA, F$$k em all.

  3. Bears Watching says:

    Scott’s advisers made the calculation that there are more votes for the U. S. Senate for guns-hunting-killing than for bears. Scott won’t get the bear-liberal-environmentalist vote anyway. No environmentalist is going to vote for a governor who killed land use laws-furthered guns in society-wants to privatize state parks and allow oil drilling.

  4. Gunhappy says:

    Scott is looking to run against Bill Nelson for senate. Senator Nelson will have a chance to expose this and many other anti=environment positions Scott has taken.

    My vote will be for Bill Nelson who deeply cares a bout FLORIDA and its wildlife.

  5. Bear-ist says:

    Why is the FWC rushing to move forward with the hunt when the last hunt in 2015 was so poorly handled. Does the FWC have the highest level of science to determine if the hunt is even prudent? Necessary? The correct and responsible thing to do is to defer the hunt and get the most comprehensive science before making a decision to kill any more bears in florida. The people of our state need to be heard, and rash actions may come back to hurt our wonderful state.

  6. Is this real life ? says:

    What kind of world do we live in where this is even a discussion, thought, idea, or solution ?!!! I’m sorry but does anyone disagree with the fact that Scott is truly as evil as he looks?? I didn’t want to go there but I mean come on people … When was the last time you woke up thinking ….we could use a little more bear control , they’re really getting in the way lately …?!! Jesus Christ

  7. Science goals says:

    The juries still out on this one and I know he’s not human, but does anyone actually have an idea as to what species Rick Scott is ??
    because whatever that is would be way more fun to hunt than bear …just sayin !

  8. Talks like a politician says:

    True that poaching, car accidents, disease, and old age kill bears. However, one of the greatest threats to bears and all other wildlife in Florida is the human being. No, not the one with a gun, but the one who destroys the bears’ natural habit through building yet another subdivision or mini city.

  9. Sad and Sickened says:

    Sad and sickened by this. Pillage and destroy-this has been the mantra.

  10. Bears Matter says:

    Sad and unnecessary. Scott will be gone in 2018.
    Please consider signing the petition –
    https://www.change.org/p/the-florida-fish-and-wildlife-conservation-commission-an-immediate-moratorium-on-the-hunting-of-florida-s-black-bears

  11. Stormwatch says:

    There’s an article in today’s Palm Neach Post titled “Florida man attacked by 300 pound alligator.” A gentleman in Sumter county was attacked by a gator on his property and shot it. The gator bit him and he had to be airlifted to a trauma center. Here’s the quote from Chris Weber at FWC. “Alligator bites are a very rare occurance, and we want to know what happened. How did this take place?”
    Alligator bites are not a rare occurance. What happened is it’s mating season and a gator crawled out of a canal and attacked someone.
    These assholes at FWC are pathetic. When is the last time a bear attacked someone in Florida? They’re defending gator attacks and killing off bears.

  12. Broward Voter says:

    Why hold the hearing in the Big Bend? Because that’s where the stakeholders live. Hunters and people who have to deal with bears rummaging through their garbage have a much bigger stake than someone who lives on Hollywood Beach and will get sad if there is a bear hunt.

    This is a prime example of why a Democrat hasn’t been elected Governor in Florida for over 20 years. Republicans focus on issues like jobs and taxes, Democrats focus on bears.

  13. Sam The Sham says:

    A liberal poster above said this;

    “The juries still out on this one and I know he’s not human, but does anyone actually have an idea as to what species Rick Scott is ??
    because whatever that is would be way more fun to hunt than bear …just sayin !”

    TRANSLATION: Governor Rick Scott is less than human and it is OK (and fun) to hunt him down and assassinate him. Killing animals like bears is wrong but it is OK to kill people we disagree with.

    This is what passes as Liberal Tolerance, folks.

  14. Charlotte Greenbarg says:

    They voted not to have the hunt!