A mother black bear was killed on the morning of Oct. 1 along Highway 1A, west of Cochrane, according to the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI).
The report stated two orphaned black bear cubs remain.
“Fish and Wildlife are reported to have removed the mother as to ensure her progeny will not stay with her. We are still unsure of the status of the cubs at this time,” CEI stated online.
CEI claimed it has a permit to take in orphaned black bears but called for public support.
“Alberta Fish and Wildlife has the ability to transport these cubs to our facility safely, but they are instructed to leave them or kill them,” CEI stated.
Orphaned black bear cubs can only be admitted to approved rehabilitation facilities between January and July 1 every year, according to the Alberta Orphaned Black Bear Protocol released by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP).
After July, AEP makes the decision to rehabilitate or euthanize the animals. The policy states cubs must be under one year old and not yet have denned the previous winter in order to be rehabilitated.
CEI stated online this goes against the biology of black bears as mother black bears lactate for 14 to 17 months after giving birth. If left, CEI believes these cubs will starve to death or get hunted by predators.
More coverage to follow.
