The pictures Linda Gibson selected from over the years for last night’s update brought back great memories. I loved your comments. We all learned together—so many great memories and so many moments when we felt privileged to be trusted by these sentient animals that let us into their lives and provided a window for the world. It was a combination of the right bears, people, and technology coming together. Tomorrow, more about that and how it started back in 1999.
Your comments show what make us family. We share so many memories and have learned so much together. When we meet or share comments, we start right off at such high levels of knowledge and memories about these bears, it is ever satisfying to be a part of.
Comments (and my responses under each):
Hope calling for Lily - 2010I remember those days so well. And, I also remember how all of us were so terrified when Dr. Rogers had to go to Lily's den to fix something. It was the first time any of us had seen anything like that. We waited in anticipation, fearful that she would attack him....what a surprise to see how gentle she was and how she responded to those 3 simple words "it's me, bear". That's how we learned about black bear behavior & how myths were dispelled! Seeing Hope's birth live was awesome and I can tell you, as an adult educator, it's the best way to learn!
Yes, and I felt supremely privileged to have Lily’s trust that makes all this possible. And contrary to the DNR’s assertions that these bears approach people for food, we don’t know of any instance in which Lily has done that or generated any complaint to the DNR.
Lily and family - 2011Thanks for reminding us of the trip we've been on via the den cams. Such a loss for school children & those of us on Social Media who enjoyed viewing the hibernating bears. In February, the court will surely see the value & worth of the den cams as an indispensable educational tool. <3
We’re counting on that.
I just cannot believe that the public cannot watch live streaming den cams. It was such a perfect learning tool for the schools. It doesn't seem right to me.
Right on! Prohibiting the public from following the Den Cams gives insight into the DNR’s motives. Is watching Den Cams really a threat to public safety?
Inside Jewel's Den - 2012To deny students (and the interested world-at-large) the opportunity to see, and learn in real time, is nothing short of a travesty! Thank you for letting the light shine in on these sentient, caring animals of the forest.
Shining that light is part of our mission of research and education.
Last winter my kids at Piedmont Elementary in Duluth, MN gained a new respect and liking of bears.
From what we have heard, that respect and liking is what the DNR wants to prevent for reasons also obvious to the next commentor.
Lily's Den - 2013If the public had free access to "den cams", they would see that bears are intelligent, loving, sensitive, wonderful mothers, and that would cause people to not want to hunt them; therefore, the DNR would lose revenue.
All we want is to watch nature as it is meant to be lived and to learn from that!!
We pray the DNR will want that, too.
Lily's Den - 2013Much has happened in the last few years.....but one thing for sure......more people have learned about bears than ever before!
We hope the judge will agree that behavioral research and education is worthwhile.
The den activities will not be streamed live, but can highlight videos be posted at day’s end?
We’re checking into that.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center