Minnesota Denies Bear Researcher’s Permit

ST. PAUL (AP) - A renowned bear researcher known to hand-feed the animals and broadcast the birth of cubs over the Internet is losing his Minnesota permit to do his close-up research.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources informed Lynn Rogers on Friday that he wouldn't get a new permit to radio-collar wild bears or videotape them in their dens.

The agency alerted The Associated Press to the order after telling Rogers, who has been licensed to do research on wild bears since 1999. Rogers has until July 31 to remove the collars. He still has a game farm permit for an education center where he has domesticated bears.

DNR officials say wild bears under Rogers' supervision are getting too comfortable around humans and posing safety hazards. Rogers tells AP they are "unfounded allegations."