09/13/2026
My summer highlight was having the exceedling fortunate opportunity and privilege of doing my black bear field research training with Dr. Lynn Rogers, the world's preeminent black bear biologist and bear research pioneer. He has been studying bears for over 58 years and has the most unique approach. Through his professional relationship and long friendship with Dr. Jane Goodall, and his desire to find gentler and kinder ways to work with bears, he began working with bears based on trust, rather than the standard method of trapping and tranquilizing them to safely make contact. He's developed multigenerational relationships with wild bears and spent time walking with them through the Northwoods of Minnesota, to gain 'around the clock' insights into their seasonsal movements, earning the moniker "BearWalker of the Northwoods" by BBC Earth ,who have done many documentaries on him.
He taught me his unique approach and I spent tons of boots on the ground time closely observing them and having mind blowing interactions.
This was all about professional development and up levelling my understanding of bear behaviour and skills around them so I can provide the best possible bear education to my own students. I was taught my the legend himself and have learned how to read bears better than most people can read dogs. My 20 + professional years in the field of animal behaviour dose hurt either.
I made a couple videos about this adventure which I have linked in the comments section if you are interested ⬇️
