Supreme Court declines to hear Ely bear researcher's case

The Minnesota Supreme Court has declined to reconsider a decision barring wildlife researcher Lynn Rogers from putting radio collars on black bears.

The Department of Natural Resources refused in 2013 to renew Rogers' permit to radio-collar bears in the Ely area, citing public safety concerns after reports of bears approaching humans for food. Rogers sued. The Minnesota Court of Appeals in July backed the DNR on banning collaring, though it said Rogers could resume putting web cameras in bear dens.

In an order dated Oct. 20, which was listed on the Supreme Court opinions website Wednesday, the high court declined to review the case, letting the Court of Appeals decision stand.

Rogers attracted a devoted following after webcasting a bear giving birth to a cub on the Internet in 2010.