Gov. DeSantis to get bill that makes it easier to shoot bears, claim self defense
A bill passed by the Florida House aims to make it easier for people to shoot bears on their property under the claim of self-defense. The bill would provide self-defense protections to individuals who kill bears, as long as they can reasonably prove that their actions were necessary to prevent imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Critics argue that the bill is based on fear rather than facts and does not include mechanisms to prevent excessive killings of bears.
Jacksonville zookeeper โviciouslyโ attacked by bear suffered lacerations on head, back, thighs: police report
The 35-year-old zookeeper who was โviciouslyโ attacked Wednesday by a 5-year-old North American black bear at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens suffered many lacerations on her head, back and thighs, according to a police report obtained Thursday by News4JAX.
Bear fatally shot after escaping exhibit, injuring keeper at Jacksonville Zoo
A 5-year-old North American black bear that escaped an exhibit behind the scenes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Wednesday evening and โengagedโ with a zookeeper was fatally shot by the zooโs lethal weapons team, officials said.
FWC and Jacksonville Zoo team up to protect Florida bats
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Zoo is working with Florida Fish and Wildlife to protect bats in Florida. The Long-term Bat Monitoring program is a statewide effort to monitor and identify bat species in Florida. They do a huge service by eating bugs, mostly agricultural pests, but they do eat mosquitoes as well, Associate Registrar at Jacksonville Zoo and Garden, Donna Bear, said. The disease is not in Florida yet, but it is in several surrounding states and can devastate bat populations. We havent ever done a statewide survey like this before, so we know bats live here, we just dont know exactly where, Bear said.