More than 100,000 Floridians have entered a lottery for a rare December black bear hunt, even as conservationists work to protect bears by paying for permits they won't use.

There are about 4,000 black bears in Florida, but to see one up close, visitors can stop at Flamingo Gardens, a botanical and wildlife sanctuary in Davie.

Joshua the bear and his caretaker

Joshua, a black bear raised in captivity, has lived at the sanctuary for 14 years. Wildlife director Michael Ruggieri has cared for him from the beginning.

"Black bears are almost doglike—incredible sense of smell," Ruggieri said. While mainly herbivores, black bears can also eat meat.

He added that development is pushing humans into the bears' territory.

State approves limited bear hunt

There has not been a bear hunt in 1

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