Two bear cubs that had been separated from their euthanized mother following an attack earlier this year have been found alive and well, wildlife officials have said.
In a Facebook post shared on August 27, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in Steamboat Springs said the cubs were "in good health" and were due to be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation center "where they will be fattened up and hibernate this winter."
The two cubs will then be released back into the wild come next spring.
The bears were left on their own in May this year after their mother was euthanized for attacking a man near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
The man encountered the mother bear and the two cubs after noticing that his garage door was open one evening and went to close it.
The mother bear attacked the man, leaving him with injuries to his head and legs that required surgery.
In a statement at the time, Colorado Parks and Wildlife district wildlife manager Kyle Bond said the incident was "an unfortunate reminder that we need to stay vigilant and 'bear aware' at all times."
The CPW press release said the man had kept "birdseed and other attractants" in the garage.
After the attack, CPW wildlife officers found and killed the sow but were unable to find its cubs at the time.
On the recent announcement that they had been found, one Facebook user responded to say the update was "fantastic news."
CPW in Steamboat Springs also uploaded photos of the cubs to its Facebook page, one of which was seen inside a cage in the back of a truck.
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Bears are known to be attracted to human food sources, and the CPW issued another warning on Facebook on Tuesday after bears managed to enter the kitchen of a Steamboat Springs home and damage the property.
Speaking to local news outlet the Steamboat Pilot, resident Sue Smith said she had come back from the grocery store on Monday and "found a baby bear on my kitchen counter." She then exited her home and saw the mother bear on the back deck.
Police were called, but the cubs eventually climbed out of an open window—thought to be the same one they came in through.
Steamboat Springs police officer Matthew Gadbois told the Steamboat Pilot the plan was to trap and relocate the three bears to another area with the help of CPW.
In the "Be Bear Aware" section of its website, CPW states that bears will come back for more if they find food near homes. The web page includes links to bear-proofing resources, including advice on how to bear-proof one's home or business.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
