RC & cubs at feeding station - Aug 4, 2012Duluth Channel 6, the Northland’s News Center, has always covered the bears well and is following up on Noliana in their 10 PM newscast this evening (Saturday, August 4) and perhaps with a longer piece on Monday, August 6. We didn’t want to make Noliana’s shooting a media event, but the DNR’s press release has turned it into one, and we’re caught in the crosshairs.
What should we say? We can only tell the truth about Noliana’s mild manner, her misinterpreted vocalizations, and the need for law enforcement officials to learn about bear behavior. We were only a half mile away from where Noliana was killed. There was no immediate danger. Perhaps the DNR could have called us for input before making their decision. It would have been an excellent teachable moment. We could have demonstrated how easy it is to scare away a bear that “refuses” to leave.
RC with cub on back - Aug 4, 2012Most people in this community could have demonstrated the same thing. This community has spent 50 years learning about bear behavior and how to coexist with them. How many bears will be killed before fear is replaced with understanding?
The 50 years of feeding bears at a dozen homes in this community has generally resulted in learning and coexistence. DNR records for 1996 through 2005 show only 2 complaints, which is 80% lower than the state average on a per bear basis during those years. A change in recording methods since then has confounded the data, making it of no scientific value.
In justifying Noliana’s killing by a conservation officer, the DNR press release tied the killing to hand-feeding rather than to fear and lack of knowledge. The incident and the DNR press release have created a teachable moment. Reporters are calling. They want the DNR view and our view. We can only tell the truth and hope to replace some misconceptions with facts about bear behavior and the kind of bear Noliana was.
Opportunities for education are growing as the Speakers Bureau forms, Education Outreach expands, and the Hope Education Building is built.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center