People living in Cape Coral calling an effort to ban bear hunting a waste of time. Last October, the state allowed bear hunting for the first time in more than 20 years in certain parts of Florida.
A Cape Coral City council member, Jessica Cosdon, is presenting resolution at Monday's meeting to urge the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to ban bear hunting again in the entire state.The resolution asks for there to be a bigger focus on removing conflicts between bears and suburban areas through deterrent techniques.
As an alternative, the council member proposes for the commission to prohibit future bear hunts in the south region of the state.
Animal lovers like Paula King says while she's completely against bear hunting in Florida, she would like to council members to focus on other issues.
"We need more schools, we need our roads fixed," King said. "Things like that are more important."
Residents like David Scarborough says he's indifferent about the issue but would like council to use the time to discuss other issues.
"I think it would be more important for them to concentrate on lowering taxes and better city services rather than worrying about bear hunting," Scarborough said.
FOX 4 tried to reach council member Jessica Cosdon to talk about the resolution but was unable to get in contact with her.
Four in Your Corner sat down with council member Richard Leon who says it's an issue other cities are looking into.
"Council member Cosdon felt that she wanted to bring it forward, protect the bears that we've recently seen were in the last hunt that gained state attention."
Council members will be debating the issue on Monday to decide whether or not to ask FWC to consider the ban.
