ST. PAUL — Minnesota bear researcher Lynn Rogers is asking a state judge to let him keep radio collars in place while his dispute with the Department of Natural Resources drags on.

Rogers was seeking a temporary restraining order Monday from a Ramsey County judge. It would defer a Wednesday deadline for him to remove the collars from bears he studies in Minnesota’s Northwoods.

A long-running DNR permit allowing Rogers to use his collars and den video cameras is set to expire. Agency leaders say they won’t renew it because they contend Rogers’ methods of hand-feeding bears are posing public safety risks. They argue the wild animals are becoming too comfortable around humans.

Rogers met last week with Gov. Mark Dayton to seek a reprieve, but didn’t get one.