Faith - Oct 21, 2012On this 32-month anniversary of Hope’s birth, we recall a paper in the September issue of Journal of Wildlife Management entitled “Learning to Live With Black Bears: A Psychological Model of Acceptance” by Zajac et al. The paper presents results of a survey to determine the factors that most influence public acceptance of the expanding black bear population in Ohio. According to this paper, the main factor influencing acceptance is Perception of Risk.
Goldenrod - Oct 20, 2012In short, people will not coexist with animals they fear, which is exactly why we are building the Hope Learning Center. If we can share the truth about these basically timid animals with people worldwide, countless bears will be spared and people will be able to coexist with them without exaggerated fear. It is also why we allow TV documentaries about our work. If black bears presented the risks attributed to them by the media and many agencies, we simply could not have worked with black bears the way we have for so long without serious injury.
Forest floor - Oct 20, 2012Today was final preparations for tomorrow’s onsite inspection by the State of Minnesota Dept of Health. Many thanks are due the 7 Lily Fans who spent the weekend cleaning everything in sight. We’re crossing our fingers we didn’t miss anything.
Many thanks are also due to all who participated in Lily’s Ladies fundraiser on Lily’s Facebook page this weekend. You raised $1,918 for the Hope Learning Center! Today was preparations for construction. Tomorrow, the heavy equipment arrives.
Thank you for all you are doing.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center