The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to open a 23-day hunt in December after determining the bear population has more than tripled since the 1990s, CBS News reported.

The bear population has grown from around 1,200 in the 1990s to more than 4,000 today, according to state wildlife officials.

Black bears in Florida can weigh up to 350 pounds on average and are found in forested areas throughout the state.

Human-bear encounters have made headlines recently, including a tragic incident in rural South Florida where a bear killed an 89-year-old man and his dog in May.

Daniel Levesque, an avid hunter, plans to apply for one of the 187 permits that will be issued, each allowing one bear kill.

"It's time to balance," Levesque said.

The last bear hunt in Florida occurre

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