WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Bearizona Wildlife Park rescued two black bear cubs that were left without a mother this week. Wildlife advocates say it’s a sad reminder not to feed wild bears.
According to a release from Bearizona, the 4-month-old cubs were found hiding at the top of a 75-foot tree the day after their mother was taken by the Arizona Game and Fish Department from a residential neighborhood in Pinetop-Lakeside. A woman in the neighborhood had been feeding the bear daily, the release said.
The policy of AZGFD is to euthanize bears that return to residential areas a second time after they are returned to the wilderness. But the bear was put down before the department realized she left behind two helpless cubs.
A professional tree climber brought the cubs down in a backpack, and they were taken to White Mountain Animal Hospital. The hospital then called Bearizona to provide the cubs with a permanent home.
The cubs will be quarantined and closely monitored by veterinarians and animal staff for 30 days before they get their own exhibit in the walk-through section of the park, Fort Bearizona.
The public will be able to see the cubs in their new home starting Friday, June 29, according to the park.