According to The Province, the 275-pound mother was woken from hibernation by a dog who harassed their den near Prince George. Several hours were spent by conservation officers, who safely tranquilized and captured the sow and later retrieved all three cubs from the den – a heroic move when a gunshot is the usual response.
Northern Lights Wildlife Society, who regularly will accept orphaned bear cubs, also agreed to take on their mother – an unprecedented event in their history. As such, they are in the midst of a fundraising rush to build an appropriate shelter for the family, at a cost of approximately $4,000.
This heart-warming story is another reminder of the incredible work done by wildlife rehabilitators and sanctuaries, the possibility of humane methodology being used by conservation officers, and the importance of keeping dogs on leash in the wild.
A round of applause is deserved by both Northern Lights Wildlife Society and the conservation officers.
