Sunlight catches the treetops - Sept 18, 2012 As the sun sets on another beautiful Ely blue sky day, all is well. The 13 radio-collared bears are accounted for. We’re not worried about Donna. She has always been among the first to den in years when she is pregnant. We believe she’s safely tucked into a den for the winter like all of the other mature pregnant females except Braveheart. Donna likely will have cubs in tow when we see her next summer!
As we prepare invitations for the ground-breaking of the new addition to the North American Bear Center, two thoughts are in mind.
First, everyone is invited! The ground-breaking is at 2 PM on Sunday, September 30th, at the North American Bear Center, 1926 Highway 169, one mile west of Ely, MN. Free admission for those attending.
Second and most importantly, the reason for this addition is expanded education through the Hope Learning Center. The main educational message: “Black bears are not the ferocious animals we once thought.” Knowing the truth about bears means life or death for thousands of bears. People simply won’t coexist with animals they fear. Changing attitudes is all important.
As forests grow back and habitat becomes available, bears expand from surrounding areas or are introduced by state wildlife agencies. As people move into forested areas, they are moving into existing bear habitat. Whether the bears live or die depends upon people’s attitudes. Our research methods speak volumes for bears. We simply couldn’t do what we do if bears were like much of the public (and public officials) believe. Knowing how to coexist with bears is what we teach. It empowers people and saves bears. The growing Speakers Bureau is part of this.
Lynn Rogers, MPR reporter Dan Kraker, and MPR photographer Derek Montgomery return from visiting June - Aug 30, 2012The road to truth about bears is hard. The truth flies in the face of long-held beliefs. Even among Lily Fans, there is passionate debate about what is right. In trying to discredit us or defend us please be judicious in your comments and avoid attacking the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and its officials. We want to continue the research and education.
An example of the difficulty of disseminating information will air on Minnesota Public Radio tomorrow morning between 6 and 9 AM Central Time. A photo preview is at http://origin-minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/18/photos-lynn-rogers-bear-researcher/. The program will air our comments on diversionary feeding that has been done in our study area now for over 50 years and has reduced nuisance complaints by 80%. Comments by people not familiar with the data will show dissent. As with any new concept that proves successful, laughter, ridicule, and sometimes anger, precedes acceptance.
White pine in clear-cutIt was the same with the white pine management changes Lynn proposed 20 years ago that cost him his job. He then formed the White Pine Society (http://www.whitepines.org/) and got his message out. Eventually, the media, the public, and the legislature came around. Today, government forestry agencies in Minnesota adhere to the changes. The ridicule and criticism turned into acceptance.
When it comes to bears, Lily Fans, the North American Bear Center, the Hope Learning Center, the Speakers Bureau, and teachers can do much more on a worldwide scale. Learning about black bears worldwide will open eyes to truth about other bears, too.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center