In Manitoba, a bear rescue organization owner reports that three 10-week old black bear cubs have been distressed and traumatized after their mother was shot and killed near their den. Judy Stearns, the president of Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, is caring for the two female and one male cubs who are missing their mother. The male cub has been vocalizing and struggling to eat, showing signs of distress.
The mother bear was illegally shot between March 30 and March 31, according to Manitoba conservation officials. An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Selkirk conservation officers or the turn-in-poachers tip line.
It is against the law to kill a female black bear with cubs in the province, as stated in the 2025 provincial hunting guide. Stearns believes that the mother bear might have survived if the den’s location had not been shared on social media two weeks before the incident.
Stearns expressed anger and disappointment at the situation, noting that she had received concerns from people about potential disturbances to the bears due to public knowledge of their location. She emphasized the vulnerability of the mother bear and the danger her cubs now face without her protection.
The cubs will undergo a program at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba to prepare them for release back into the wild in the fall. The organization aims to ensure their survival and successful integration into their natural habitat. CBC News has sought comment from Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie’s office regarding the matter.