Living One - Lynn Rogers

Kerulos’ 2024 Living One series, WHAT IS OURS TO DO? recognizes the critical importance of a vision for the present and the future: We know what’s wrong, but what does “right” look like? This is a vision that moves us toward personal and collective action for revitalizing the planet.
My Life with Bears
Dr. Lynn Rogers is the founder of the North American Bear Center (www.bearstudy....) located in Ely, Minnesota. He received his doctorate in ecology and behavioral biology at the University of Minnesota. Lynn has spent more than fifty years studying wildlife behavior and ecology, focusing on Black Bears. His Bear work has ranked as one of the five major studies of large mammals in the world and is one of the longest conducted with a single species. For close to two decades his research has centered on the more than two hundred Bears who live around the Center. As a result, he has developed many deep, long lasting relationships with Bears and is an accepted member of their community. This dedication has dispelled the myth of Bears as ferocious and dangerous beings. Dr. Roger’s work has indisputably demonstrated the complex intelligence, emotions, empathy, culture, and gentle nature of Bears. Lynn lectures widely, serves as a scientific consultant internationally, and is the focus of numerous documentaries including thirteen BBC-TV programs. Every year, thousands of visitors from around the world visit the Center to learn about who Bears really are.
[Watch other Living One episodes here: kerulos.org/kl...]

[@beaglemom63]

I can't believe you got an interview with him! What a treat -- thank you.

[@JaniceDahl-t3r]

I had the opportunity to visit the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN on two occasions spending three days with Dr. Lynn Rogers and his team for an absolutely first class learning experience about Black Bears. It was a life changing experience. I too, tell people all about it and many people think I am crazy. I wouldn't trade that experience for any other experience. He is a true treasure.

[@clairemccuen1089]

I moved from NJ to PA - not realizing I moved into bear country. Our first bear encounter was beyond frightening (just having a bear on our deck) and contacted our local DNR. Wanting to know more about bears, I found the Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center on-line, and have continued to learn about black bears from Dr. Rogers since 2010. I've since visited Ely MN four times and became a volunteer, and can't wait to visit again. Great Interview - thank you for sharing.

[@alewicke]

Thanks for interviewing Doc. I've been following the research since he was on the Today Show, just before Hope was born. No one believes me but, i constantly spread the word about black bears. I even told the folks at Harvard that the snarling bear in their exhibit was not accurate. The good news was that they kind of knew but, weren't willing to have a bear killed to get a more accurate stuffed bear. Thanks again!!

[@rauschma]

So often, we handle our interactions with nature like wars - against ants, pigeons, rats, etc. It’s great that someone has figured out how to improve the situation with bears.

[@CarolineLampert]

Dr. Lynn has offered an abundance of knowledge and information about black bears in MN. I have followed him now for about 15-20 yrs before Lilly was born. He is a wonderful and gracious human. I do disagree with some things that are said about bears, they are like humans in the way that they are all very different with only some similarities. A human walking on a road would not know what kind of day, a bear may be having. Maybe a toothache or an infection, no food, offspring bear died or got lost, males hormones raging and issues there. You never know what might set the bear off. Black bears do attack humans more than is known, they are/can be dangerous, and the ones who are fed up in Ely at specified feeding places become conditioned to doing this year after year. They also are conditioned to the same people over and over. Bears are generally easy to condition and shape their behaviours by using the behavior modification process. The are still innately dangerous if presented something that may "trigger" this wild behaviour of chasing, attacking and/or killing a human. There is a place for animals in our land and it is separate and must be respected. This does not mean one needs to become friends with them and yes we need to learn to live among them and learn info that will help us understand how they live and to leave them be. Many people attribute their own feelings to animals. Animals have feelings yes.....but not the same as humans. There is no human logic, reason, empathy, compassion. What they have is very different and its given to their own kind. But with that being said I do believe that if a bear had many yrs. of proper conditioning by the same person over and over it may act in a protective way if this person was to have a health incident while with the bear. Maybe even with female hormones raging it may be more "kind" than usual or t hen again it may be more aggressive depending on the makeup of the bear and as I said they all have different personalities' with some aspects of this genetic disposition remaining the same with in the species. Way too many variables to say I think that bears are not dangerous or will not harm humans. They do and they will. Respect bears and don't try to transfer your feelings onto the bear. Remember that Dr. Lynn has been living among bears for over 30 yrs. and at times feeding them with treats and they have become conditioned to him, as he offers the same words, voice tone, and positions with his body. I offended have wondered If I or anyone would walk down the path where "his" conditioned bears are living calling "here bear" or by their name if the bear would come to me or run away. I think there are too many variables to say one way or another. We have lived with bears on our property. Once I was sitting about 50 ft from the tubs full of corn that I feed the deer with on our property. There was no wind to speak of, I'm sure the 350 lb bear could smell me and it did ignore me and didn't look at me but walked right to the food and layed down to chomp away at the corn. I did not make any movements at all. This was a wild bear. When its head was down, in slow motion I walked backwards to my front door about 40 ft away. So I was watching this bear all the time while walking. When I got in the house I watched out the window and it just kept eating until I shouted get away from my deer food. It ran so fast like the speed of light. I would never trust a bear or any other wild animal. They are fun to watch but they can be dangerous and as I said you never know what kind of day or week or month they are having. At any rate, Dr. Lynn has done much for humans as he has educated and informed us of many things we would not know if it was not for his studies and sharing what he has studied. I go to the Bear Institute as much as I can and I always learn something new and can sit for hours watching the bears and we all need to be very thankful for Dr. Lynn and what he has given and done in MN.