MPR: Mainstreet Radio Special: Wolves and Bears

Mainstreet Radio Special:
A Wildlife Management Plan
Midday broadcast from the International Wolf Center in Ely
Hosted by Rachel Reabe
Wednesday July 28, 1999

Hour One: The future of the wolf
Hour Two: The future of the bear

HOUR ONE: The future of the wolf

Hour One in RealAudio 28.8

In the last decade, Minnesota's bear population has jumped from 10,000 to 20,000, and people want to get closer to them. Why? Listen to Leif Enger's story.
Photo: Leif Enger

Federal officials have delayed plans to take timber wolves off the federal endangered species list because the Minnesota Legislature failed to pass a wolf-management plan. Minnesota has approximately 2,500 gray wolves, which is about 85% of the wolves in the lower 48 states.

The proposal to reduce or eliminate federal protections was based on the Minnesota DNR wolf plan reached by a citizen roundtable last summer. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says they want to remove the wolf from the endangered species list in the areas where it is appropriate but are having to reevaluate their plans after the Minnesota Legislature failed to act.

GUESTS:
Bill Route,- Wildlife Biologist at the International Wolf Center
State Senator Gary Laidig
Ron Refsnider- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist.
Mike DonCarlos - wildlife specialist with the DNR

HOUR TWO: The future of the black bear
Hour Two in RealAudio 28.8

Minnesota's bear population has exploded in the last decade, jumping from an estimated 10,000 to over 20,000 bears. The DNR is studying how to manage the bear population, which is expected to continue to rise.

GUESTS:
Dave Garshelis- Black bear project leader for the DNR.
Lynn Rogers - Bear researcher .
Bill Lea - American Bear Association president Bill Lea

PROGRAM CREDITS
Site producer: Leif Enger
Host: Rachel Reabe
Engineers: Rob Hebzynski and Cliff Bentley

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