DNR warns public of aggressive bears in Ely-Tower area
August 29, 2011 at 7:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources warned the public Monday that some black bears in the Ely-Tower area have become aggressive toward people, including bears associated with independent bear researcher Lynn Rogers.
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Rogers is very foolish you cannot “Make Pets” out of wild animals like he has and not eventually have it back fire on you. Problem is I think Rogers cares more about his bears lives that some child’s or other human’s.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The whole country has been allowing that crap to happen up here in Ely with the frigg`n wolves. The wolves are now used to humans, and even seen in alleys and on the playground in Winton. But THAT`S OK? And still they are under federal and state protection.
jh45 is correct in his posting about the bears, excluding maybe the part about Rodgers not carring about human life….but it is contributing to a problen at this time of year, when the natural food supply is low because of the weather.
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Lynn Rogers, your heart may be in the right place, but you are letting your ego cloud the problem here. We live in the Tower area, and while the abundance of wildlife is what we love about it– if you cannot read this article and add up all of the negative bear encounters– you are not seeing the problem! We have neighbors that had these bears in their yard\on their porch in the past few months as well. Not sure if it is the same bear or not, but these problem bears do need to be addressed. Perhaps it is the shortage of food in the dryspell, or perhaps habituation to humans…. what will it take for you to realize the flip side of the coin, Lynn Rogers? A small child getting mauled?!
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“what will it take for you to realize the flip side of the coin, Lynn Rogers? A small child getting mauled?!”
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That comment is displaced, as there are no statistics to back up the hyperbole.
Fact: “Over the past 110 years, a total of 63 people were killed in 59 non-captive bear attacks, most of those occurring in Canada and Alaska, said the study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management.”
“Each year there are millions of interactions between people and black bears with no injuries to people. So while the risk is low, it does exist,” said University of Calgary professor emeritus Stephen Herrero.”
If you live in bear country, limit your interaction or know how to respond. to bears. Stopping along a highway traveled by both humans & bears to watch a collared study bear with cubs is not limiting your interaction.
FACT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in 2000 a study on dog bite-related fatalities (DBRF) that covered the years 1979-1998. The study found reports of 327 people killed by dogs over the 20-year period.
This means that your family dog or your neighbor’s dog is ten times more likely to kill you than a mountain lion and hundreds of time more likely than a coyote attacks.
Since both of those are more prevalent than bear attacks, the stats speak for themselves. Be smart about bears, know your limitations & if you live in the same area as bears, carry bear spray.
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Bears wandering wilderness areas, who would have guessed such a thing? We’re in their territory…they were hear long before us, and hopefully long after our spoiled human race.
The bear with the paws on the car. Obviously, the car wasn’t driving by at oh say 25 MPH…they were stopped. Why? Was it to watch the bears? Just like Yellowstone I’d hazard a guess. Regarding the guy that got a boo-boo from a smack in the face. Going out to feed bears in the dark? Really? Really? And it’s a sow with cubs…he got what he deserved.
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As a long time visitor to MN & the Tower/Ely area, the one thing I really do appreciate is the abundance of wildlife. I’ve had bears visit my cabin in the summer & with the last one, a simple “shoo, bear!” was all it took to see the poor 500 pound male take off for the woods as if he’d been threatened within an inch of his life. I lived in Canada & yes, we have black bears up there too, so it is not like these animals are a persistent threat to anyone. If you live in the woods where the bears live, then yes, you are going to see them on your porch occasionally. Put away your bird feeders, take in your dog food, and secure your trash cans. I think the DNR is over-reacting here. What’s next? A warning about bunny rabbits & squirrels? We’re not talking grizzlies here. Anyone in MN ever hear of bear spray? Educate the public about proper interaction & stop looking for excuses to demonize research bears who display the same curiosity as any other bear. Anything less is a disservice to the community.
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I get really tired of seeing Lynn Rogers whining “oh, they’re pickin on me again”.
I’ve never understood how he thinks he can have it both ways, whenever it suits him.
If the bears are indeed ‘wild’ as his research claims, he’d have no way of assuring people of what any bear may or may not do.
If the bears are habituated or tame, then his claim that that particular bear is safe would be logical, although that would definitely put his ‘wild’ bear study data in question.
Personally, I believe his bears are far most than just habituated. That term simply means that bears are used to seeing people within their habitat so they don’t pay much attention to them.
Roger’s bears are used to being hand fed and handled, which to me puts them more in the ‘tame’ catagory. Not to mention the other human interventions that go on in their lives that would never happen with truly wild bears. You can bet that any ‘voting’ on these comments will be skewed by his Facebook fans.
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Once again I hear a number of folks blaming rogers because of his bear studies. My understanding is Rogers has donated much of his proceeds from the bear research to the city of Ely. Yet I still hear from a number of folks how terrible he is. My answer to those of you who live there and cannot accept the interaction with the bears and wolves then move. You live on the edge of the wilderness but blame those animals that call it home the problem. Maybe its your attitude that is the problem This interaction is not only occurring there but also up the Gunflint Trail. I have a bear that on a frequest basis comes and helps himself to my bird feed and suet I put out. I accept the fact that interaction will occur but also know the best thing to do is leave the bears alone and they will move on. As far as the DNR is concerned I can name a couple of incidences such as the failed attempt to relocate the small herd of elk in northwestern Minnesota to Red Lake Reservation that a judge put an end to and the demand by the people of the Gunflint Trail to have more than one Conservation Officer to cover that area. They wanted three but got two. The DNR has a long way to go to convince me they are the best protectors of our nature and resources.
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I agree with those folks who commented that it is we humans who are encroaching on the territory of wildlife. Dr. Rogers is not to blame for the bear “situation” in the Ely area. The same scenario plays out in Massachusetts, where I live, and in every other state in the U.S. Black bears are incredibly curious, yet innately timid. Anyone who lives in bear territory needs to be educated about how to interact appropriately. And, if there is a shortage of food for bears this season, have a heart and cut them some slack. They are gorgeous and intelligent creatures who will be in their dens soon enough.
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I`ll try again, as they cut me out the fist time.
What`s the big problem? The American public allows the Feds to let the wolves up here around Ely do the same thing, and we can`t do a thing about it. Wolves are seen in alleys and even in the playground in Winton, and that`s OK?
If it`s OK to let the wolf population get used to people [of course we all know a wolf would NEVER do a kid in], what`s the big issue with bears? Heck, at least they have a hunting season on them. Wolves run free!
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Here’s a news flash for all of you wilderness ranger wannabees; Wild bears DO NOT wander up to one’s running car and put their paws on a fender. Wild bears DO NOT try crawling into a car with a little kid inside. The semi-domestication feeding of bears at the NABC research unit is NOT research, and it most assuredly will result in someone getting hurt or killed. Heaven forbid it happens to someone’s child.
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Murphy there is a big difference between a wild bear at your cabin and one or Rodgers semi tame bears. Wild bears have some fear of humans, Rogers bears do not they have learned to be around humans and not be afraid of them. Rogers knows how to interact with his bears that does not mean others can or will. Just a a tame dog knows your afraid of it, so would them bears which means they may react differently. That may mean either attack or misguided protection of themselves. If you listen to Rogers on the news reports he is quick to blame the DNR or People if something happens with his bears. Any Wild animal like Bears, Wolves, Cats and Coyotes ect can be dangerous but a wild animal that has lost its fear of man is more dangerous. There have been several black bear attacks in the MN/WII area over the past few years. Bears and Wolves should not be taken lightly.
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jh45, Your right. That`s why I always carry my 44 revolver when I walk anywhere. It`s loaded with highgrain hollow points. my backup is a “Judge” that shoots 410s or 45s. I sometimes have the first two shells as 410, and the remainder 45s. The judge is a great “warning” gun, and doesn`t need a steady aim to use.
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Who cares. They are only black bears. Nothing to get all worked up about. Now, if we were talking about grizzlies or kodiaks or polar bears, then I would be concerned, but as far as I know, there aren’t many of those wandering around Minnesota.
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Research vs. nature, such a dilemma. Rogers has been “studying” bears for such a long time, and people have been complaining about it right along. The only thing is that way back then; the locals (Ely) weren’t being taken seriously when they complained about Rogers “pestering” these animals. Fast forward, today, the Ely Bear Center brings all the “outsiders” and “their opinions” to the “mistreatment and hunting” of black bears, bears that need protection. I’m not the expert on bears, but it is documented knowledge that black bears can be aggressive, will attack humans, and yes, they do seek out easy food sources. I have lived in Ely, born and raised there, hunted there, and never, ever considered taking a gun with me anytime I’ve been in the area wilderness to protect myself from a black bear, wolf, or even another Ely local. Even on my countless trips into the BWCA with food packs that really never needed to be strung up in a tree for fear that a bear might get my lunch while I was out fishing! Now, all of a sudden, it’s bear season, again there is the possibility that a hunter will shoot and kill a research bear, and low and behold, articles like this pop up. Aggressive bears in Ely – oh, my, stay inside, out of the woods, watch your back and children. Come on people – don’t provide food sources (bird feeders, open garbage containers, clean up fish guts, BBQ areas of food items) and you probably would never see a bear! Rogers is just being Rogers – for those that know him. For those of you who don’t, well, let’s just say, you can’t judge a book by the cover. Wait until a child gets mauled, hey, that can happen, but so can being hit by a truck if you decide to not watch your kid as they venture out into the street. There will be hunting and some hunters do not have to not take that collared bear, but some will, as that’s hunting!
When people try to “humanize” an animal it creates all sorts of problems. We are to blame for domesticating dogs, cats, bears, lions and tigers, and there are terrible outcomes when the “animal” gets “animal” on their keeper. Animals are meant to be in the woods, hunting, eating, and procreating, not in cages for people to smile and coochi-coo them! Humans get the animal world all screwed up! Animals are meant to be hunted; it takes out the sick, culls the herds populations, and makes for betterment of the herd with stronger animals surviving and getting rid of the sick and weak. Rogers is another researchers fooling with Mother Nature, and we all know that saying, “it’s not nice…..!”
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bears who are desperate and starving come in looking for food, especially when they need to feed cubs. Lynn’s research bears have been collared a very long time, so why is it that now years later, in a year of little food, that they are now causing some problems? Because they don’t have food, that’s why. It’s happening with normal wild bears as well.
As for the wolves, much of the problem with them coming into Winton (where I happen to live) would be alleviated if half the people in this town didn’t feed the stupid deer. Wolves eat deer. Invite deer into town, the wolves follow their food source. Don’t want wolves to eat your cat, don’t feed the deer. It’s really not that hard.
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• A sow slapping at a homeowner, who admitted he was out feeding her and her cubs and came to close to one of the cubs. He takes full responsibility for his actions.
Mother bear was just protecting her young. If someone was getting to close to my children I might take a warning swipe at them also. Does that make me aggressive and dangerous? I don’t think so.
• A homeowner shot a bear on his porch that would not leave despite a warning shot. Was this bear really being aggressive, or just curious?
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• A picture of a bear with front paws on the back of a car window. What is the rest of that story? Were the occupants feeding the bear and someone just happened to get a picture?
And then for the news to even insinuate that the collared bears in the Ely area are solely responsible is incredible. There are only 10-15 collared bears, out of hundreds in that same area. Only one in the above instances had a collar on.
These bears are hungry. Searching for food is NOT being aggressive. It is “being a bear”.
The DNR does have the responsibility to warn and protect humans against aggressive or dangerous wildlife, and I support them in their efforts. They also have the responsibility to protect the wildlife from aggressive and ignorant humans. You DO NOT feed a wild animal from your car, from your hands etc. Humans need to start acting like humans and use a little common sense.
And our news media needs to start being responsible, and do its’ research and then report only the facts. Not write some embellished story in order to boost its’ own ratings. Give wildlife a break here.
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Well arab28, welcome to the “real world” of today. Got news for ya….This is not the old days pal.
I`ll pack. You may only get one chance to escape in certain situations. Which by the way, you were lucky enough to never experiance. I assure you, that if you had one of those experiances, you`d wise up fast….and you`d never be without your sidearm again.
And THAT is a FACT!
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It’s about time the bears drive all these d*mn humans out of their territories. The next move these great animals need to do is charge the reservations rent for living on (italics) ‘their’ property.
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Uh, actually it’s more likely the humans (natural beings also) will drive the d*mn bears out of their territories. Eff Peta!
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There needs to be more hunting. There are plenty of black bears. If you can’t get one elsewhere the “tame” bears by Ely should be easy to get.
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I’d like a really big trophy sized bear rug. Has Rogers been fattening up some nice size bears? I might have to go bear hunting in that area.
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