Ely, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - Researchers say finding out what caused the cub's death could be delayed due to recent developments.
Researcher Sue Mansfield was there when the 3-month old cub died.
"We went in search of his mother and then after we found her we went back and checked on him and he was in the final stages of dying," said Mansfield.
Mansfield and Dr. Lynn Rogers say after the bear family left its den, Lily and her three cubs walked for almost half a mile to get to high ground.
The researchers feel the long trip may have been too much for three month old Jason.
"Whether there was something wrong ahead of time and that's why he was weak, or something happened during the travel, we just don't know," said Mansfield.
Though the researchers conducted a short necropsy on the cub's body this morning they say they still had more tests planned when a DNR official came to the bear center and took the cub's body.
DNR officials we spoke with said Dr. Rogers did not have the correct permits to maintain custody of the cub's body.
"Dr Rogers doesn't have what is known as a collection permit, or a carcass permit. His permit to do his research does not include a permit to keep the dead carcasses of his study animals. He has to get another permit from the DNR to do that," said communications director with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Rogers says he and his research team have done nothing different from previous situations like this.
"Everytime; if a bear dies and you want to find out why you call the game warden to say that the bear died, you proceed with the autopsy, you get some information, and it all helps science," said Rogers.
Tissues recovered from the preliminary necropsy were not confiscated by the DNR so testing is expected to continue.
Dr. Rogers says the removal of the bear's body by the DNR is frustrating to him.
"We finally are able to get at what are the causes for cub bears, so when one dies like this we want to get to the bottom of this and we're being prevented from doing that. I just don't know what to say," said Rogers.
DNR officials say the confiscation of remains in situations like this is standard procedure and should not reflect negatively on Dr. Rogers research.
Officials also say once the animal has been examined, if Dr. Rogers would like the carcass back, "in all likelihood, he would get it back".
Dr. Rogers says the nearly quarter million fans of Lily on facebook are looking for answers into what happened to Jason.
Meanwhile Rogers says Lily, and her cubs Hope and Faith appear to be healthy.
Photo Courtesy: North American Bear Center (www.bear.org)
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