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Wildlife Officials Consider Sanctuary For Bear

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Dec 20, 2007 3:30 pm US/Central

Wildlife Officials Consider Sanctuary For Bear

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) ― A one-eared black bear that state wildlife officials wanted to put down for being a nuisance might instead be moved to a wildlife sanctuary.
  
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that it hasn't yet decided what to do with Solo, who is hibernating with her two cubs underneath a cabin in Eagles Nest Township in northeastern Minnesota. Officials had planned to euthanize the mother bear and relocate her cubs.
  
State Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, said the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary near Orr has agreed to accept Solo and her cubs, sparing the mother bear's life.
  
"We're trying to evaluate the proposal," said Bob Meier, DNR assistant commissioner. "It certainly is an option. But the biggest fear is public safety. People think it's friendly and have given it a name, but it's really a wild animal and has the potential to attack."
  
The DNR has said Solo became too familiar with humans in the township, where she's among about 25 bears. Some residents have put out food for her.
  
But a couple dozen township residents signed a petition earlier this year, calling Solo a nuisance, and the cabin owner asked the DNR to remove the bears.
  
Dill said he agrees that the bear is a wild animal and should be treated as one. But after receiving about 50 phone calls and e-mails, the chairman of the House Game, Fish and Wildlife committee explored other possible solutions.
  
"Regardless of how tame it appears, it's still a wild animal," Dill said. "But because of the passion that has surrounded this, I thought there should be an alternative."


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