Solo the one-eared bear received a Christmas present of life.
"We are going to give the black bear a reprieve, a pardon," Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced on his weekly Friday radio show. "It is a good pre-Christmas, pre-holiday announcement."
State Department of Natural Resources officials had considered putting Solo down because she has become too friendly with people, which could be dangerous. But now it appears she will live out her life in a wildlife sanctuary, probably in South Dakota.
Solo is a one-eared bear that has become well known to residents in Eagles Nest Township near Tower. That is where she and her cubs are hibernating under a private cabin.
Some area residents call the 4-year-old black bear a nuisance. Pawlenty, saying all he knew about the case was what he read in newspapers, came down on the bear's side.
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"My feeling is this bear should not be euthanized," Pawlenty declared on his radio show.
Paul, a caller to Pawlenty's show, said killing her would be "a waste of natural resources."
The governor agreed, but said the state must keep children safe. "We obviously have to put those concerns first."
"The biggest fear is public safety," said Bob Meier, DNR assistant commissioner. "People think it's friendly and have given it a name, but it's really a wild animal and has the potential to attack."
Solo and other bears in the township eat from bird feeders that are placed on trees and residents' decks.
In June, 28 township residents signed a petition calling Solo a nuisance bear.
