What we’re about
Florida Voices for Animals (FVA), sponsors of the Annual Tampa Bay VegFest, is a nonprofit organization. Our members work for the compassionate treatment of animals. Issues we're involved in: exploitation of animals in entertainment, on factory farms, and by breeders; protection of endangered wildlife; spay and neuter programs; reduction of domestic abuse and neglect of companion animals; promotion of plant-based diets; support of animal sanctuaries; and protection of the environment for all animals, human and nonhuman. Join us today to help create a gentler, more compassionate world! We hold lots of events in the Tampa Bay Area. Come to one of our pot lucks or dinners and meet renowned advocates for animals. Help us with leafleting or education of schoolchildren on animal rights and plant-based diets. Pitch in to help at one of our vegan bake sales or other advocacy events. Come to our celebrated ThanksVegan dinner. Join us to get involved, and meet lots of other caring, compassionate people like you!
Visit us at www.floridavoicesforanimals.org for more information about us and be sure to read our FVA Volunteer Manual on how to help us educate the public at our events, demonstrations and protests.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Help Bring Awareness to Proposed FL Black Bear Hunt - Leafletting EventSaturday Morning Market, St. Petersburg, FL
EVENT DETAILS:
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proposing another Florida Black Bear Hunt, possibly in December of this year. This is based on unreliable data and against the wishes of most Floridians. Please help us handout flyers to educate the public on how they can help our Bears. Join us at the St. Pete Saturday morning Market from 10am to Noon. IF enough people sign up, we may add another shift of 12-2pm. Please tell us what time you can come.
Some problems with the proposed Black Bear Hunt:
INCOMPLETE DATA – The reality is we do not know how many Black Bears we have in Florida. Bear population studies will not be completed until 2029-2030. Decisions made now could cause devastating losses in the current bear population. Yet, the FWC has mentioned allowing kills of up to 20% of the current population in some areas, which would be devastating.
UNRECOVERED POPULATION - Roadkill data suggests bears are still struggling to recover from the 2015 hunt. The reality is that 304 bears were killed in 2015, almost 60% were females, some could’ve been pregnant, 38 were lactating, meaning as many as 95 nursing cubs potentially also died.
The hunt was stopped in less than 48 hours due to the high kill rates. Florida Black Bears are timid and have never killed anyone. They are easily lured to bait, which may have been illegally used, and often do not appear to be afraid of humans, which makes them easy targetsPUBLIC OPPOSITION - Most Floridians oppose another bear hunt. The reality is that in 2015 thousands of Floridians were surveyed, and more than 75% opposed the hunt, yet the FWC proceeded with the devastating hunt anyway. The FWC MUST listen to the people!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Send your comments about the hunt directly to the Commissioners via email at: commissioners@myfwc.com2- Join us on May 17, at the St. Pete Saturday market to help distribute flyers with information on what people can do to help stop the hunt
OR attend one of the protests scheduled around the state on the same date: https://www.beardefenders.org/protest-dates
3- Finally, this is VERY IMPORTANT, IF you are able, PLEASE join us at the live FWC meeting in Ocala on 5/21 when the final decision will be made about the bear hunt. We will be allowed to make public comments at that time. PLEASE RSVP on our already posted meetup calendar for that date.
Help protect Florida’s bears! Say NO to Black Bear hunting. Make your voice heard today!
- FL Black Bear Mtg-5/21/25 Ocala 8:30a-Florida Wildlife Commission, Ocala, FL
Join us in Ocala on Wed May 21st at the FWC Commission meeting and speak up for Florida’s black bears!
The meeting begins at 8:30 am on May 21st and 22nd. Black bears will be on the agenda on Wednesday May 21st and the meeting runs for two days.- We are asking Florida advocates to attend and speak briefly & politely to the commissioners and ask that they NOT proceed with a bear hunt. Floridians love black bears and do not support a trophy hunt of our iconic subspecies. With massive development, habitat loss, and vehicle strikes the last thing our bears need is to be chased down by hunters.
- The time allowed for each public speaker will undoubtedly be shortened because of the number of speakers; even a 30 second comment urging the commissioners not to proceed with a bear hunt would be very helpful.
- Day of: speakers check in with FWC staff members upon arrival and register to speak on the black bear agenda item.
- Black bears need your voice- please join us in Ocala on May 21st! Please reach out with any questions….
Additional Information from FWC: https://myfwc.com/hunting/bear/
The FWC hosted 3 webinars on the proposed options regarding a black bear hunt and you can listen to one of the recordings here: https://vimeo.com/1073539169 To be clear, a bear hunt is not imminent- a NO hunt at all is an option and we are urging the commissioners to choose this option.
FWC
1239 SW 10th St, Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 732-1225 - Vegan Potluck & KaraokeUnitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Join Florida Voices for Animals (FVA) every 1st Friday of the month Vegan Potluck & Karaoke.
We'll be at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa's Multi-Purpose Building (MPB), 11400 Morris Bridge Rd, Tampa FL 33637
Bring a Vegan dish to share along with a 3x5 card listing the item & ingredients.
Also bring your best singing voice to share with friends & family. Admit it - you do it in your car, so you can do it here!
6:30-7:30 Potluck
7:30-9:00 Karaoke
