The status of two black bear yearlings is unclear following the death of their mother yesterday, according to the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI).
A social media post by the CEI yesterday stated that the mother bear was killed yesterday morning, west of Cochrane in the vicinity of Highway 1A. An updated social media post written on Monday, October 2, stated that Alberta Fish and Wildlife were reported to have removed the mother.
The CEI also underlined that reports of the yearlings being shot were unverified and the status of the yearlings is still unknown.
"Since last night, we have received information that potentially the two orphaned bear cubs have been shot. This has not been confirmed with proof through either a formal statement or photographs. Any information supplied to us on this event requires photos or video proof as they are vital to back up anything that is said and any statement made by a member of the public etc."
Initially, it was reported that the young bears were cubs, though according to new information, the cubs appear to be yearlings.
Previous social media posts underlined that the CEI has a permit to take in orphaned black bears.
"However we need your 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. The Alberta Orphaned Black Bear Cub Rehabilitation Protocol requires that no orphaned bear cubs be rescued after June 30 of the year of their birth. This goes against the biology of black bears. Mother black bears lactate for 14-17 months after giving birth. Thus, these cubs will starve to death or get hunted by predators if they are not supported in this first year of their life," yesterday's Facebook post stated.
The incident comes on the heels of increased reports of bear-human interactions, the most recent of which turned deadly after a Grizzly bear killed two people in Banff National Park.
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