The subject heavy on our minds tonight is protection for radio-collared bears. It is also heavy on the minds of Team Protect.
The thought of a hunter deciding to shoot Lily, Hope, June, or any of the dozen radio-collared bears is devastating. They are too important to science, education, regional economics, etc.
We have bombarded new Commissioner Tom Landwehr and his staff with facts and cold reasons why these radio-collared bears should be protected. The staff includes David Schad, Deputy Commissioner; Ed Boggess, Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife; Dennis Simon, Chief, Section of Wildlife; and Dan Stark, Head of the Bear Management Committee. We asked for a meeting with the commissioner.
We have received no response except a call to say the commissioner is tied up and couldn’t meet with us. We have been frantic to get them information because an internal DNR meeting was scheduled for yesterday about protection. We sent facts, pictures of radio-collars with ribbons, petitions, and letters from local officials. We made a very strong case. We have no idea if they read any of it. We are assuming they did.
More is needed. We want to make sure they are considering public opinion, and there has been no evidence of that. Newspaper quotes from officials have centered around whether it is fair to ask hunters to look twice for radio-collars before they shoot, and should hunters who make honest mistakes be made criminals by passing a law against shooting radio-collared bears. We echo those concerns. However, simply asking hunters not to shoot radio-collared bears has not worked. For 10 years, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has asked hunters not to shoot radio-collared bears but assured them that shooting the bears is legal and, if they do shoot one, they should turn in the radio-collar. It hasn’t worked. This past fall, state bear biologist Dr. David Garshelis said he lost 9 radio-collared bears. We lost Sarah and Cal. The portion of radio-collared bears killed is not much different from the portion of bears killed in the overall population.
What we need now are letters from Minnesotans to the new commissioner with copies to the governor, a couple key legislators and the North American Bear Center (so we have some idea of what they are seeing). We sent them the facts. Now we need you to tell them what these bears mean to you, to your children and grandchildren—both at home and in school if your school is one of the over 500 using the den cam. How have these bears changed your thinking? Have they taught you anything about bears and nature? How would you feel if these bears were killed? Ask them questions. Ask them if they are considering the opinions of the vast majority of Minnesotans who want protection for these bears. Ask them how they are going to protect them. Be respectful, but hard questions are fair game.
If you sent a letter to Governor Pawlenty last year, re-address it and send it to the commissioner with copies as above. According to a FOIA request in mid-October, the governor received 304 letters and 375 emails in support of protection and 6 against. Those letters have long been destroyed. Now, the commissioner needs to see them. He said in an interview that wildlife management must respond to the desires of people. Let him know your desires.
This first wave of letters should be from Minnesotans. Officials often disregard letters from out of state. If you have friends or relatives in Minnesota, ask them to write. If you are a teacher, tell what these bears mean to your classes and perhaps have your students write letters to include. If you can show the den cam to your friends, perhaps they would write letters.
If you are from another state and don’t have Minnesota connections, we will ask you for a second wave of letters about tourism once this first wave has been sent.
Here are some addresses for people with Minnesota addresses:
Commissioner Tom Landwehr
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St Paul, MN 55155-4040
Representative David Dill
273 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
Rep. Dill is the representative from our area. Without his support, we have little chance.
Representative Phyllis Kahn
353 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
Rep.
Rep. Kahn is willing to write legislation and talk to key people. She wants to see copies of your letters. She will likely use them in her discussions.
Governor Mark Dayton
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/index.jsp
North American Bear Center
1926 Highway 169
Ely, MN 55731
It wouldn’t hurt to send a copy to your local state representative.
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housemembers.asp
We must succeed.
Thank you for all you do. A brief video of today’s “Life in Lily’s Den” is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ISlJzfTNM.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center