The head of a bear sanctuary in Manitoba has revealed that three black bear cubs, just 10 weeks old, have been audibly distressed since their mother was fatally shot near their den, situated north of Balmoral earlier this week.
Judy Stearns, the president and owner of Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, expressed concern for the well-being of the young cubs – two female and one male – now under her care, describing them as deeply upset and traumatized. She mentioned that the male cub has been particularly vocal, constantly calling out for his mother and struggling to eat.
According to Manitoba conservation authorities, the mother bear was unlawfully shot sometime between 7:30 p.m. on March 30 and 1 p.m. on March 31, as detailed in a social media update.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident, urging anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact Selkirk conservation officers at 204-785-5080 or the turn-in-poachers tip line at 1-800-782-0076.
It is against provincial regulations to harm a female black bear with cubs, as outlined in the 2025 provincial hunting guide.
Stearns suggested that the mother bear might still be alive had it not been for individuals disclosing the den’s location near Balmoral on social media approximately two weeks earlier.
She received numerous calls and messages from concerned individuals who feared that people were visiting to photograph the mother bear nursing her cubs, potentially disturbing them in their den.
Expressing anger and disappointment, Stearns remarked that she was not surprised by the outcome, given her long-standing involvement in animal advocacy.
She experienced a sense of dread when informed by the authorities about the shooting earlier in the week.
Stearns described the mother bear as vulnerable and defenseless while tending to her cubs in an exposed area, as the cubs were not yet mobile enough to leave the den.
She criticized the act of shooting a nursing mother bear with 10-week-old cubs, highlighting the potential risks the cubs now face in the wild without their mother, such as predator attacks or starvation.
Stearns emphasized the misconceptions surrounding black bears, noting that humans often fear them more than necessary. The province emphasizes that black bears are intelligent and shy creatures that avoid human contact and advises against approaching or feeding them.
The cubs will undergo rehabilitation at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba’s facility, where they will be prepared for release back into the wild before denning season in the fall.
CBC News has reached out to the office of Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie for a statement.
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