BURST
Two bear cubs that conservation officers were searching for after their mother was killed last month for attacking a woman in Maple Ridge have been rescued by a wildfire group.
“We’re pleased to share that both bear cubs — a male and a female — are now safely in our care. They each weigh between 20 and 30 pounds and are settling in well,” said Rod Janz, a spokesperson for Critter Care Wildlife Society in an email Tuesday.
Critter Care is seeking donations to help with their care, which Janz said costs between $5,000 and $6,000.
“These expenses begin with the initial capture effort, which involves setting and monitoring traps over several days. We co-ordinate closely with conservation authorities to secure permits and handle all required documentation.”
In June, a woman in Maple Ridge was left with a minor head wound after being struck by the black bear, and was treated in hospital. Maple Ridge RCMP officers who responded to the call, reported to be in the area of Abernethy Way and 224th Street, decided the situation posed a danger to the public and made the decision to destroy the bear.
The bear had two cubs, which escaped. B.C. conservation officers looked for the cubs, which were born this year and so unlikely to survive without their mother, with drones and found them last week.
Once captured, the cubs were transported to Critter Care in Langley, where staff provide daily care, including cleaning, feeding them a diet of fruit, vegetables, and fish, and administering any necessary medical treatment.
The incident followed another animal attack in the region two days previously. On June 10, police responded to an call involving an aggressive coyote and a resident which resulted in the resident’s dog being bit.
Bear and coyote encounters are common in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, but Ridge Meadows RCMP want to remind residents to stay vigilant and use precaution. “We all play a significant role in determining how wildlife will interact with humans,” they said in a news release. “Educating yourself and your family can help prevent such encounters.”
With staff files