Department of Natural Resources cuts permit for Ely bear researcher

The Associated Press
January 29, 2013 at 7:40AM
After a long search through a dense spruce bog, Lynn Rogers, founder and Executive Director of the North American Bear Center in Ely, was able to approach Brave Heart, one of the collared black bears in his study. Brave Heart, an 8-year-old female who weighs 400 pounds allowed Rogers to change the batteries in the bears GPS collar and record it's heart rate without the use of a tranquilizer.
Lynn Rogers, founder and Executive Director of the North American Bear Center in Ely, changed the batteries in the collar around the neck of Brave Heart, one of the black bear in his study. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ELY, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has cut back on the number of bears a researcher may study and reduced the time he can do it.

The DNR lowered the number of bears Lynn Rogers can collar and track from 15 to 12. And the permit is valid only through June, rather than December.

The DNR says Rogers hasn't produced enough scientific work.

Rogers leads the nonprofit Wildlife Research Institute near Ely. He may be best-known for placing cameras in bear dens for Internet feeds that have attracted fans around the world.

Rogers says the reduction in the number of bears he can study is "devastating." He tells the Duluth News Tribune ( http://bit.ly/V6KOfJ) his institute currently has 13 bears collared.

___

Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

about the writer

about the writer

More from Minnesota Star Tribune

See More
card image
Provided/Sahan Journal

Family members and a lawyer say they have been blocked from access to the bedside of Bonfilia Sanchez Dominguez, while her husband was detained and shipped to Texas within 24 hours.

card image