We need to clarify Ely’s support of protection for radio-collared bears. The City Council’s resolution does not give protection; it simply gives support for protection. Actual protection has to come from the state level—either as a Commissioner’s order from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources or from the legislature. Governor-elect Mark Dayton is in the process of selecting a DNR Commissioner. That’s why Team Protect is making a big push to write and send letters on Monday to:
The link for details and talking points is at http://www.facebook.com/lily.the.black.bear#!/topic.php?uid=263755115498&topic=19080. We doubt Mark Dayton will select a commissioner on the basis of his stand on radio-collared bears, but if Dayton voices support for protection, it should make a difference. He has said jobs and the economy are two of his main goals as governor. The radio-collared bears are certainly good for Minnesota’s economy. That’s the big reason the Ely City Council and Ely business owners are on board with this. The research bears become more valuable to science each year as the background on each bear grows. June, with her 7 years of detailed background data, would be irreplaceable in our lifetimes. Each year, another chapter in her life unfolds in the context of all she has done so far. It’s becoming the same with other research bears such as Juliet, Braveheart, Dot, Donna, Lily and Hope, etc. They have revealed so much about their lives, giving us a basis for comparisons in the future.
Lynn loved the picture Sue found to go with last night’s update which mentioned the BBC series ‘Bear Family & Me’ which airs in the UK on January 3, 4, and 5 at 9 PM. The camera the bear is exploring costs over $100,000, but who could get better pictures of bears than the bears themselves? We’re looking forward to the series. Each segment of the UK version is a full 60 minutes. When and if it is broadcast in North America, each will be about 43 minutes to make room for ads. We hope to get copies of the full UK version of the series to sell at the Bear Center.
You may have already seen this news broadcast about Lily and Hope and the den cam, but if not, here’s the link http://beforeitsnews.com/story/305/043/UP_NORTH:_Following_up_on_Ely_s_favorite_bears,_Lily_Hope.html.
This next one is probably premature because it isn’t going to air until 8:25 AM Central Time on Friday, Christmas Eve, on WOJB radio, 88.9 FM, in Wisconsin. The interviewer Lissa Radke is a Lily fan and, as is true of all the Lily fans Lynn meets, she knew Lily facts and all about the clan of research bears. Lynn says talking to Lily fans is like talking to old friends—an immediate bond. Lissa covered Lily, Hope, the den cam, diversionary feeding, misconceptions, etc. The program is called ‘Big Sea Shining Water’ and is about the people, places, and natural environment of Lake Superior. The best way for Lily fans to listen to the program is to go to the WOJB web site (www.wojb.org) on Dec 24 at 8:25 AM CST and click on the link ‘Listen Live Online.’
Another project is coming together to add to the Lily and Hope exhibit at the Bear Center. Sue Gottscho’s book ‘Den Days’ is close to joining Kristin and Moe McKibbage’s beautiful album and Olatz’s beautiful book ‘Lily & Hope – the light of the Northwoods’ in the exhibit.
According to Betty Firth, director of the Ely Area Food Shelf, the only way to donate is by checks written to the Food Shelf and sent to PO Box 786, Ely, MN 55731. She will list names and perhaps states in the local papers to show the support from Lily fans and how the radio-collared bears and their fans benefit Ely.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center