Wild research black bears in Minnesota would be tagged with fluorescent ribbons and hunters would be asked to avoid shooting them under a bill passed by the Minnesota House this week.
But the bill wouldn't make it illegal for hunters to shoot research bears, even those with radio collars.
The Department of Natural Resources would be required to notify licensed bear hunters, in writing, about the location and nature of bear research where they hunt, and they would be asked to avoid shooting the bears.
"This language is just a very modest attempt to make hunters aware of the presence of these bears in an area where they may be hunting," said Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, whose proposal was amended to a large Game and Fish bill. "There is no penalty for a mistake."
Some have pushed for a law protecting research bears after two bears collared by Ely researcher Lynn Rogers were killed by hunters last year. Though the animals were taken legally during the hunting season, the bears' deaths sparked outrage and anti-hunting sentiment.
Rogers himself and thousands of his supporters sought legislation making it illegal to shoot research bears, and he asked the DNR to protect them. DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr declined, though he said he hoped hunters would voluntarily resist shooting research bears.
"Even in the name of research, individuals or groups shouldn't be allowed to pre-empt legal harvest," Landwehr said earlier. And hunters might have a difficult time seeing the collars or other identification before they shoot, he said. "We don't want to prosecute people for honest mistakes," he said.
Kahn said she agrees, but wants the DNR to take a more formal approach to helping protect the bears.
