Solo, a northern Minnesota black bear facing a death penalty, got a gubernatorial pardon just days ahead of Christmas from Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

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Solo, hibernating with her two cubs beneath a seasonal cabin near Ely, will be moved to a new neighborhood, though state Department of Natural Resources officials don't know just where that will be, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Saturday.

Solo had become a bit too comfortable around humans, the DNR said, which prompted the agency to consider euthanizing her. But after a public uproar, the agency looked for other options.

Pawlenty lent his support to Solo Friday during his weekly radio show.

"We are going to give the bear a reprieve,'' Pawlenty said. "My view of it is this bear should not be euthanized."

The DNR said the mother bear and her cubs will be relocated to a place where they can be tended and not have "uncontrolled interactions with people.''

"This solution satisfies our original and primary concern about public safety,'' said Mike DonCarlos, DNR wildlife research and policy manager. "This bear is habituated to humans and has lost its fear of people, which makes it impossible to predict its behavior.''