Research Permit Issues
June 28, 2013
Today, we received a letter from DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr that ends our special permit for research and education on July 31, 2013. The reasons given in Landwehr’s letter (lack of publications, public safety, our behavior with research bears) are unfounded and appear to be written to sway the public. These are not the real reasons for his ending our research.
In 2011, the DNR expressed deep anger over the number of letters we asked you to send in support of protection for radio-collared bears and over comments on Facebook against hunters following the death of Hope. We have been aware for some time now that the DNR has been trying to build a case, any case, to stop our research.
We spent the winter and much of the spring writing a response to the unfounded allegations they have been throwing at us since the letter-writing campaign in 2011. Our response was sent to Commissioner Landwehr on June 24, 2013. At 82 pages, the response is long. The first four and a half pages give some idea of the situation. The “In Closing” statement on page 28 sums it up.
June 24, 2013 - Permit Perspectives June 20133.16 MB — WRI response to allegations made in Commissioner Landwehr's cover letter of Dec 21, 2012
June 28, 2013 - Cover Letter and Permit (amended)1.38 MB — Commissioner Landwehr's letter ending our research permit as of July 31, 2013
December 21, 2012 - Cover Letter and Permit2.07 MB — Commissioner Landwehr's cover letter (unfounded accusations) and a 6-month permit ending July 1, 2013
January 31, 2012 - Cover Letter and Permit811.74 KB — Commissioner Landwehr's cover letter and a 10-month permit
November 29, 2012 - Email and Permit Extension109.61 KB — 3-week extension to permit due to DNR workload
September 13, 2011 - Letter to Tom Landwehr3.5 MB— Den Cam research details
January 31, 2011 - Cover Letter and Permit525.78 KB — Cover Letter and a 12-month permit