By The Canadian Press / Government of Alberta

Alberta lifts eight-year ban on rehabilitation of orphaned bear cubs

Apr 18, 2018 | 4:24 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta has lifted a ban on private rehabilitation of orphaned black bear cubs.

The ban, lifted on Wednesday (Apr 18) which has been in place since 2010, has meant that bears orphaned in the province have been killed or sent to zoos.

Officials have worked with wildlife sanctuary operators to develop a new policy.

They had hoped to have it in place before this spring’s black bear hunt, which started on April 1.

It will allow Alberta Fish and Wildlife staff to work with private facilities to allow the rehabilitation of black bear cubs that are less than a year old.

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If you encounter a bear cub in the wild:

— DO NOT approach. Mothers will often leave their young for periods of time to search for food. A mother may return and become aggressive in the defence of her cub.
— Call Fish and Wildlife. If you have reason to believe that a bear cub you encounter is orphaned, it is best to contact Fish and Wildlife at 310-0000, and to allow them to monitor the situation before taking action. A complete list of local office contacts is available online.

Quick Facts:

— There are more than 40,000 black bears in Alberta. In a given year, there are approximately 10,000 black bear cubs born.
— In Alberta, it is illegal for hunters to kill a bear cub or to kill a female bear that has cubs with it.
— Not all animals found in the wild are orphaned. There are times when mothers safely leave their young while they forage or find new habitats to survive.  
— British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba allow the rehabilitation of black bear cubs younger than one year of age.
— The review of Alberta’s bear rehabilitation protocol began after three black bear cubs were found in a washroom in Banff National Park on April 1, 2017.
— There are 10 permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Alberta. These facilities provide a service that many Albertans use and value.