The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has filed written arguments in a federal lawsuit brought by anti’s to challenge the endangered status of black bears in Florida and keep them off-limits to hunters. The anti’s want to use the Endangered Species Act as a tool to ban hunting nationwide.
On Dec. 7, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund, the legal arm of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, filed arguments with Judge Henry Kennedy, Jr. defending the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to not list the Florida black bear as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Extensive research by federal wildlife officials has shown that the listing is not warranted. Studies reveal that healthy bear populations occur in secure habitats in several areas.
Anti’s have tried for years to list Florida’s bears under the ESA. In this case, the Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, and other anti-hunting groups brought suit contending that the black bear in Florida is a separate sub-species of the North American black bear. The groups argue that the distinction entitles Florida bears to protection under the ESA. They want to establish a precedent that allows the challenge of the endangered or threatened status of any game animal that has numerous sub-species.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has asked Judge Kennedy to forgo a trial and decide the case based solely on written arguments.
The USSAF is joined in the suit by the Central Florida Bear Hunters Assn., Safari Club International and Mark Roden of St. Augustine.
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www.ussportsmen.org
Topic: Sportsmen File in Court to Ensure ESA Not Manipulated to Ban Hunting (Read 1187 times)
