In Manitoba, a bear rescue organization is caring for three 10-week old black bear cubs who have been distressed and calling out for their mother. The mother bear was illegally shot near their den north of Balmoral, leaving the cubs traumatized. Judy Stearns, president of Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, described the young cubs – two females and a male – as greatly upset, with the male cub vocalizing his distress and struggling with eating.
According to Manitoba conservation officials, the mother bear was unlawfully shot between March 30 and March 31. Conservation officers are investigating the incident and asking the public for any information regarding the shooter. Killing a female black bear with cubs is prohibited in the province, as stated in the 2025 provincial hunting guide.
Stearns believes that the mother bear’s tragic fate could have been avoided if the den’s location had not been shared on social media. She expressed disappointment and anger at the online disclosure of the bear’s whereabouts, which led to potential disturbances by curious onlookers. Stearns, who has been involved in animal advocacy for years, had feared such an outcome and was disheartened when informed of the shooting.
The vulnerable position of the mother bear nursing her cubs in an exposed area made her an easy target, noted Stearns. She emphasized the heartlessness of shooting a nursing mother bear with young cubs, highlighting the potential dangers the cubs now face without their mother’s protection. Stearns underscored the need for accurate information about black bears, noting that they are generally shy and intelligent creatures that avoid human contact.
The orphaned cubs will undergo rehabilitation at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba and will be reintroduced into the wild before denning season in the fall. Efforts to reach Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie’s office for comment have been made by CBC News.
