I say it's time to shut down Lynn Rogers' bear research. With one of his hand-fed research subjects now threatening the public while looking for yet another handout, I say enough is enough ("DNR officers shoot nuisance yearling bear near Ely," Aug. 3).
These bears are conditioned to receive food from humans. More than 650 humans have hand-fed the bears since 2003, according to a published report. The bears seem to long ago have lost their natural fear of us. To allow this to continue is doing neither the bears nor humans any favors.
Private citizens have no business setting up their own research centers, especially when their methods alter the natural behavior of their subjects. Observational techniques? Really? Seriously?
Lynn Rogers is responsible for this young bear's death. It's your basic cause and effect. That bear was only doing what it was taught; it was finding humans to feed it. I don't believe a word Rogers said in the story to the contrary. Even an air horn would not chase it away. By the grace of God the children in the vicinity of the bear weren't harmed.
If the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cannot see the folly in this, then the sheriff should serve a cease-and-desist order on Rogers' entire operation. His petting zoo has now expanded outside his control.
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Public safety? How about the bears' safety?
Jerry Ferkingstad
Canyon
