Destroyed grizzly's three cubs found in good health, relocated to northern Alberta
Published Sunday October 12th, 2008
EDMONTON - Three cubs belonging to a grizzly who was destroyed after she mauled a hunter to death in west-central Alberta were on their way to a new home on the weekend.
One of the orphans was found in a trap Saturday and the other two were found Sunday, said Duncan MacDonnell, public affairs officer for the Sustainable Resources Department.
The traps don't inflict injury and were probably baited with rotting meat, he explained.
The two males and one female are between 1 1/2 and two years old and are in good health, he said.
"We've taken some genetic samples, installed ear transmitters on them and they are now in transit to be released in a remote part of the province well away from any people."
The area in northern Alberta is good grizzly habitat, MacDonnell added.
The ear transmitters will allow wildlife officers to keep tabs on the young bruins. Officials opted for the small devices instead of a radio collar around the neck.
"We don't do radio collars when they're this young because those collars have to fit fairly snugly, and because they're still growing, it's actually more dangerous to put a collar on them," MacDonnell said.
The outlook for the three siblings is positive, he said.
"What I've been told by our bear experts...is that they have a very good chance of survival in the wild."
But at least one conservation expert has raised concerns.
Cliff Wallis, vice-president of the Alberta Wilderness Association, said "there's little hope" for the animals. He said bear cubs often stay with their mother for the first several years of their life to learn about food sources and their home range.
Wallis is also upset that wildlife officers killed the mother at a time when grizzly numbers are dwindling in the province.
"It's a threatened or endangered species...but Alberta refuses to recognize it," he told the Calgary Sun.
Conservationists estimate there are fewer than 500 grizzlies in Alberta. Earlier this month, the province revealed that an ongoing count has found fewer than 300 of the bears, although numbers from one region are still outstanding.
The female adult was tracked and killed after she attacked Robert Wagner, 48, of Didsbury, Alta., late last month. He was reported missing after failing to return from a hunting trip Sept. 29. His remains were found a few days later and tests confirmed he was mauled by a grizzly
A woman who ranches not far from where Wagner was killed has said the attack has spooked her friends and neighbours.
Lucy Skinner said people in the area are too afraid to go out to do chores.
They are also upset they weren't told a dangerous animal was in the area after it was confirmed Wagner was mauled to death.
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