(...) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced Wednesday they will not place the Florida black bear on the national threatened species list, reaffirming a 1998 decision that was challenged by numerous wildlife conservation organizations. (...) The bears live in the Apalachicola National Forest, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Osceola National Forest and the Ocala National Forest. They also live in the Big Cypress National Reserve. (...) A subspecies of the American black bear, the Florida black bear is generally found in forested areas and eats mostly plants, acorns and berries. Macdonald said a federal threatened species designation could have helped stop the development of its habitat. The habitat of the Florida black bear continues to shrink, Macdonald said.
Another proof of our rich Florida wildlife. It's worth preserving!
