Orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a home; that’s the good news
When grizzly bears and humans surprise one another in the wilderness, it’s quite often the bears that pay the dearest price.
A recent example is a story out of Montana, where three grizzly bear cubs were found huddled in a field on April 12 by a Pondera County rancher.
On Tuesday, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks explained that the cubs belonged to a momma grizzly that was euthanized after she had been shot by a hiker during a late-evening encounter near Dupuyer on April 9.
The sow, accompanied by one visible cub, bit the hiker in the thigh before the hiker shot the bear with a pistol. The hiker walked home and later received medical assistance.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks determined that the bear was defending its cub, or cubs, and not acting in a predatory manner. According to the Great Falls Tribune, the injured sow was located and euthanized the next day.
On Tuesday, FWP announced that after an exhaustive search for a suitable home, the cubs will reside at Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona. They’ll join 39 black bears and numerous other critters in helping to educate visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation.
FWP also explained that the bears were fortunate. Finding an accredited facility willing to house them required a six-week search and vetting process by FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Finding homes for orphaned grizzly bear cubs has become increasingly difficult, FWP stated, and there may be cases when cubs have to be left in the wild or humanely euthanized.
With this in mind, the agency advises outdoor enthusiasts to always carry bear spray and avoid hiking alone or at dusk; to make enough noise to avoid surprise encounters, and to keep watch for bear tracks and other signs of bear activity.
For those who might be interested in learning more about the orphaned cubs, FWP will conduct a Live Facebook Event on Thursday at 11a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.
–Top image shows Ali Pons feeding one of the orphaned grizzly bear cubs; all images are courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks