WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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November 30, 2012
I personally witnessed their work in 2012. What a game changer. What they do is so far removed from the traditional approach that seemingly every finding they make is groundbreaking. Their findings challenge the decades old dogma we all learned in school and in outdoor circles. As a biologist, everything I "knew" about black bears was challenged. As a biologist with several decades of professional experience under my belt, I felt like my career might have been wasted. The dynamic duo of Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, WRI supporting cast, and WRI volunteers are now some of my favorite people on the planet. They truly deserve healthy funding as they deliver value for every dollar. Kudos to them and if you were on the fence, don't be. They are a GREAT place for your dollars to make a real difference. To a person, everyone I have spoken with who has first hand knowledge of WRI simply can't say enough good about them. Count me in that camp now. Please help put them on sustainable footing. They return your good will with fantastic work.
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Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 14, 2012
Great group doing education about black bears via live den cams..updates..or videos. please watch the live birth of cubbies each january via ely,minnesota. It is an awesome an life changing experience! learn the truth about black bears>>that they are the animals to be feared
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Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
February 14, 2012
29 people found this review helpful
great educational value from this bear group. always teaching us an whole world about black bears.. i guess that is why so many schools have it in their classrooms> i will always support wri an ignore the lies spread by a few against them to boost their egos. what great things this reseach group is doing. i hope to visit them again this spring/summer. well worth the drive :) >
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
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Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
May 23, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
There are not enough words to describe the dedication and commitment Dr. Rogers and Sue Mansfield are making in their endeavor to research, educate and understand the life of the black bear. I have been following their efforts since 2010 and have learned more about black bears than I ever would have anticipated. Kudos to them for their tireless efforts and integrity!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
February 15, 2012
28 people found this review helpful
From the very first time I clicked on the WRI and learned about Black Bears, I have been a daily observer and follower of Dr. Rogers and Sue Mansfield's research. It has been one of the most interesting, informative and exciting journeys I have ever been on ~ a worthy and invaluable labor of love and research - one filled with integrity, intelligence and humanity. The educational value is invaluable to children and adults alike, and has changed the hearts and minds of thousands who are learning about black bears and how they live. Study boxes are now available to teachers everywhere and with continued support, more and more can be done to educate the world. Kudos to the WRI!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
3 people found this review helpful
May 13, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
I have followed the NABC and WRI since Jan 2011, watching the den cam hen Hope was born. Dr. Rogers and Sue Mansfield have and are doing a great job researching the lives of Shadow's clan and educating us on the truths about black bears and dismissing the myths. Their research is known worldwide and highly respected. I plan to visit Ely in July and visit the NABC. I have learned so much from this research. Both the NABC and WRI are doing a great job educating about black bears
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
3 people found this review helpful
May 12, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
This non-profit ranks among the unique. The leaders, researchers, work 7 da/wk and easily 12-14 hrs./da. so that others will understand the important niche the American Black Bear holds in the world of wildlife and how humans can learn to co-exist with them. There are no big salaries or performance vehicles, only hours of forest trekking, data compiling and communication. The WRI is among the finest of non-profits-a gem of integrity. It is a privilege to support this Research and benefit from it.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
4 people found this review helpful
May 12, 2012
4 people found this review helpful
I've been following Dr.Lynn Rogers,and Sue Mansfield's research since early 2010. I have learned so much about the misconceptions of the black bear,and they are not the ferocious animals so many people think they are. For me it all started with a bear named Lily,giving birth via a live web cam in Ely,MN to a cub called Hope~Following the research,and Shadow's clan has been life changing for me,and I'm so grateful to learn everyday more and more,through the daily updates at the WRI,and bear.org~
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
7 people found this review helpful
May 11, 2012
7 people found this review helpful
The WRI has been a part of my daily life for the last few years. I have learnt so much about Black Bears, and the surrounding Northwoods. I was able to volunteer my services, by doing shifts on the dencam, collecting data for the research. Which gave me great satsfaction, in the hope that these beautiful animals will be understood a lot more. My dream is to visit the Bear Centre and the Ely area.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
22 people found this review helpful
February 17, 2012
22 people found this review helpful
I have been following the work of Dr. Rogers and Ms. Mansfield for several years, and finally had the opportunity to take the Bear Study Course last summer. I am a physician, educator and a researcher, and very familiar with scientific methodology. Their research is sound, impeccably done and likely to yield important findings on bear behavior. Management of the finances is likewise beyond reproach. They personally never benefit from any of it, live very simple and modest lives, and are truly dedicated to their research, but even more so to education about black bears. Countless elementary school children are learning more than they could ever imagine from these animals, including science, math, civics and the ups and downs of life. These are lessons that cannot be duplicated in other ways. I will continue to support Dr. Rogers and Ms Mansfield in any way I can, including contributing my knowledge towards interpretation of their findings whenever they feel appropriate.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Several visits including the bear study course.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Encourage Dr. Rogers to publish his data more promptly. He has some excellent material that must be published in high impact peer-reviewed publications, in order to disseminate his findings. Some of the data may have implications for human medicine as well.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
How did you learn about this organization?
Through other researchers who recommended WRI to me.
23 people found this review helpful
February 16, 2012
23 people found this review helpful
When a friend said,"Did you see that stuff on the internet about a bear up in Ely that's going to have cubs and it's going to be on webcam?", little did i know what effect that would have on my life. The bears on camera, in the videos available on the website and in Updates, the photos of their life activities, all the factual scientific research that is shared on the webpages has totally changed my understanding of the black bear. I used to be afraid of being in the woods at night. In our 35 years of Boundary Water trips we would quote all the misinformation offered by sporting magazines, hunters, the DNR, etc about how aggressive and dangerous black bears are. Now i know better. They are wild animals and deserve respect but i am no longer afraid. i have yet to see a black bear on any BWCAW trips. but i really want to know that i understand their behavior. All this from two totally dedicated researchers who quietly present facts to the public and their peers in an effort to have people open their eyes and minds to what the MN black bear really is about. Thank you Dr. Rogers and Sue Mansfield!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
no longer fearing an encounter with a black bear because i know the signs that are wrongly touted as "the bear is going to attack", are really only signs that the bear is afraid and would like nothing better than to get away from you!
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
it is really sad to see the slander and harassment that some people post against the researchers The comments seem to come from some very troubled individuals. These people also "offer" totally incorrect information about the bears and the functioning of the WRI and the NABC. Dr. Rogers and Sue M. are kind, bright, dedicated people. They deserve respect for all they give of their time and lives so the rest of the WORLD can learn and enjoy the black bears!
Why did you make your donation at this time?
Some of the extremely negative people seem to enjoy trying to destroy the organization's work through lying and trying to suck others into their negative downward spiral. Donations to non-profits seem to be one way to help the organization. For those that are so negative - there is obvioulsy no help.
What would you tell others about this organization?
Support it! The work is important, good, and fun to learn about.
29 people found this review helpful
February 15, 2012
29 people found this review helpful
This organizaton headed by Dr. Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, biologists has changed my thinking about the behaviors of black bears. There expertise in this field and their willingness to share the years of knowledge has brought together so many people with the same interests, and has increased education about black bears in many school systems. Reading others comments, who say that the donations aren't being used as they said they is not true. The biologists share how the donations are being used with the public. It's unfortunate that even after years and years on study, Dr. Rogers and Sue Mansfield are still questioned about how they do their research. I will stand by this organization through thick and thin. I cannot believe that there are naysayers that speak about this organization.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Likely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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