A Manitoba bear rescue organization’s owner revealed that three 10-week-old black bear cubs have been desperately calling for their mother, who was recently shot and killed near their den north of Balmoral. Judy Stearns, the president of Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, expressed concern for the traumatized cubs, consisting of two females and a male, now under her care. She described the male cub as continuously crying for his mother and struggling to eat.

According to Manitoba conservation officials, the mother bear was unlawfully shot between 7:30 p.m. on March 30 and 1 p.m. on March 31. Authorities are currently investigating the incident and urge anyone with relevant information to contact Selkirk conservation officers or the turn-in-poachers tip line.

Stearns mentioned that disclosing the den’s location on social media likely led to the mother bear’s tragic fate and expressed disappointment over the situation. She received numerous calls and messages expressing concerns about potential disturbances caused by individuals visiting the den to photograph the bear and her cubs.

The mother bear’s vulnerable situation while nursing her cubs was highlighted by Stearns, who emphasized the risk the cubs now face without their mother’s protection. She stressed the importance of coexisting with black bears responsibly, citing the province’s guidelines on avoiding interactions with these animals.

The orphaned cubs are set to undergo rehabilitation at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba and will eventually be reintroduced into the wild before denning season. Efforts to reach Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie’s office for comment are underway.