Orphaned Bear Cubs Taken To New Hampshire Rehabilitation Center

A number of days after the capturing of a mom bear at a Scudder Highway residence, her two orphaned cubs had been lastly captured by Connecticut Division of Power and Environmental Safety (DEEP) on the night of Might 16.

After being attracted into humane traps with meals, the cubs had been despatched to Kilham Bear Heart, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation heart in New Hampshire. DEEP’s Fb web page subsequently acknowledged, “wildlife biologists need to let everybody know the cubs arrived safely on the rehabilitation facility and appear to be settling in.”

The cubs’ arrival on the rehabilitation heart ended an emotionally-charged saga involving their destiny. The cubs are the offspring of Bobbi the Bear, a well-known black bear who has been wandering the realm for the previous 4 or 5 years and has a Fb fan web page set as much as publish sightings of her, recognizable by her a number of #217 ear tags.

The 2 bears cubs, that are believed to be 4½-5 months outdated, had been orphaned after Bobbi was shot by a resident on Might 12. Ridgefield Police Division has issued a press release confirming that the resident was an off-duty Ridgefield police officer.

“We’re conscious that one among our officers was concerned in an off-duty incident by which a bear was shot and killed in Newtown,” states the Ridgefield PD launch. “The incident is below investigation by the Division of Power and Environmental Safety and we refer all inquiries to them. We now have no additional info.”

DEEP Senior Advisor on Outreach and Engagement James Fowler mentioned the capturing was nonetheless below investigation, and till the investigation was full, it’s unknown what, if any, expenses could also be filed. DEEP Wildlife Division Director Jenny Dickson confirmed that the capturing concerned free vary chickens owned by the resident.

Following the capturing, consideration turned to the destiny of the 2 cubs, with DEEP initially proof against the thought of taking them in. DEEP officers on Might 13 cited a need to “let wild issues keep wild.” They despatched biologists to look at the cubs over the weekend to find out if they might care for themselves.

However native residents, staff from wildlife organizations in addition to city and state officers together with Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and State Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan, had been pushing for the cubs to be taken to a rehabilitator. By Might 16 and with public outcry and nationwide media consideration rising, DEEP modified its stance and started makes an attempt to tranquilize the 2 cubs in order that they might be dropped at a wildlife rehabilitator.

Public Consideration Regarding

DEEP Wildlife Division Director Jenny Dickson mentioned throughout a press convention on Might 16 in Newtown that two orphaned bear cubs had been taken into rehabilitation due to issues of how a lot public consideration they’d drawn. Dickson mentioned the eye drawn to the bear cubs has put them in a “tough state of affairs” as a result of the cubs might develop into habituated to people, or meals omitted for them might entice different predators that would put the cubs in peril.

DEEP biologists waited within the woods most of Monday morning and afternoon, as the 2 cubs had climbed a tree and had been too excessive to securely tranquilize. By mid-afternoon, DEEP officers had begun contemplating a Plan B, the place they might set out traps baited with meals in hopes of trapping the cubs after darkish.

In keeping with the DEEP Fb web page, nonetheless, the primary bear cub got here down from the tree at roughly 5:30 pm. The cub was tranquilized efficiently and brought in. The second cub didn’t come down till a bit after 8 pm, at which period it was additionally efficiently tranquilized and brought in.

“DEEP employees has efficiently and safely captured the bear cubs,” DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble mentioned following the 2 profitable captures. “I need to thank the DEEP wildlife workforce for spending all day within the woods making an attempt to seize the 2 cubs. I’m grateful for an excellent end result and grateful for our workforce.”

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal was out of state when he heard the information of the capturing. He fielded calls from the general public, media, DEEP, state representatives and even Governor Ned Lamont over the course of the weekend.

“I’m heartbroken over the lack of the bear and the orphaning of the cubs,” Rosenthal acknowledged in a launch inside hours of the killing of Bobbi on Might 12.

Following the announcement that the bear cubs can be rehabilitated, Rosenthal instructed The Newtown Bee that whereas he “understood the method [for DEEP],” he felt the trail they had been taking to seize the cubs was “the appropriate one.”

“I’m glad to listen to that’s the place they’re going,” mentioned Rosenthal. “The cubs’ finest probability is in rehabilitation. Folks can complain that issues didn’t occur quick sufficient however I’m simply glad that it’s taking place and the cubs are nonetheless OK. Frankly, that’s everybody’s precedence.”

Rosenthal mentioned that “individuals love Bobbi.”

“It looks like we’re divided on nearly every part besides animals,” mentioned Rosenthal. “We must always have a good time that and attempt to do higher for wildlife.”

Annie Hornish, Connecticut state director for the Humane Society of the USA, was on the scene Sunday and Monday as state officers tried to lure the cubs from a tree to seize them for transport to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

“Connecticut officers missed a essential window to seize the cubs over the weekend and had been fortunate to search out the bears once more on Monday,” mentioned Hornish. “These frightened animals spent the afternoon excessive up in a tree, confused by the chaos under them. By night, each cubs had been safely caught, and we had been instructed that they might be on their solution to a good sanctuary the place they will correctly be cared for till they’re hopefully prepared for launch when they’re sufficiently old to dwell like grownup wild bears. They might not have survived at this valuable younger age within the wild with out their mom.

“The entire disregard for his or her mom’s life — capturing her a number of occasions — left two cubs defenseless and stranded,” Hornish continued. “They might have trusted their mom for as much as 24 months and that essential time was taken away from them. With their lives ceaselessly modified, let this be a wake-up name and harsh reminder that there are quite simple, good and mandatory steps to coexist with wild animals. We should all be taught to dwell with bears and to worth their lives.”

On the Might 16 press convention, Laura Simon, president of the Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitation Heart, instructed The Bee that their representatives and various residents situated the bear cubs on Might 15 and tried to get DEEP to answer Newtown and seize the cubs. Nonetheless, it was “5 hours till they confirmed up,” which triggered them to “lose the chance” to securely tranquilize the cubs earlier.

Simon mentioned the cubs are too younger to be on their very own and “want their mom’s milk and safety.” She was “thrilled,” she mentioned, that DEEP was finally onboard with rehabilitating the cubs and was “anxious to listen to” the place the cubs are despatched following their seize.

Rep Allie-Brennan Concerned

Raghib Allie-Brennan was amongst these assembled on the location of the cubs on Sunday, Might 15. He expressed frustration that on the time, the state group was nonetheless unwilling to seize the younger animals.

He mentioned that the cubs climbed up a tree and “seemed dehydrated and exhausted” and had been “ready for his or her mom.”

He was pleased to listen to that stress he and different state representatives had been placing on DEEP had modified their place and that he would “ensure to carry them to it.”

Allie-Brennan mentioned there had been an “outpouring of goodwill from residents right here and throughout the state.” He additionally expressed concern in regards to the resident who shot Bobbi.

“It’s critically offensive that there was no remark from DEEP or Ridgefield about this,” Allie-Brennan mentioned on the time. “I need to ensure that it’s taken critically as a result of it’s severe.”

Rep Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) hailed the ultimate decision to rehabilitate the 2 orphaned bear cubs after their mom was fatally shot in Newtown.

“I need to thank DEEP for seeing this our manner and shout out my legislative colleagues, State Representatives David Michel, Nicole Klarides-Ditria, Raghib Allie-Brennan and Anne Hughes for his or her caring intervention and the stress they placed on DEEP to rescue, not abandon, the cubs,” mentioned Bolinsky.

“Thanks additionally to a number of animal advocacy teams for serving to find the cubs and being superb advocates,” Bolinsky added. “And thanks to all of the neighbors who rallied collectively in assist, in addition to Newtown Police and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal for having us all come collectively as a neighborhood, to take essentially the most humane path ahead for Bobbi’s cubs.”

Newtown Animal Management Officer Carolee Mason warned about protecting livestock on property unprotected. The capturing was related to the bear reportedly attacking the resident’s free vary chickens.

“It attracts native wildlife,” mentioned Mason. “It’s like a McDonald’s for native wildlife.”

The proprietor of 5 chickens that she says she caught “working round city,” Mason mentioned she retains these chickens in a barn in a single day to guard them.

Mason mentioned the capturing was “very unhappy” and that householders ought to take extra precautions in order that they don’t entice wildlife like bears.

“Persons are making an attempt to fault wildlife for being wildlife,” mentioned Assistant Animal Management Officer Emily Whitaker.

Anybody who observes a black bear in Connecticut is inspired to report the sighting on DEEP’s web site or ship an e-mail to deep.wildlife@ct.gov.

Affiliate Editor Jim Taylor might be reached at jim@thebee.com.

One of many two bear cubs at Kilham Bear Heart in New Hampshire.
—photograph from Connecticut Division of Power and Environmental
Safety Fb web page

A photograph of Bobbi the bear. —Picture courtesy of the Bobbi the Bear #217 Fb web page.

A wildlife staffer from Connecticut Division of Power and Environmental Safety places one of many captured bear cubs right into a pet service on Might 16, as DEEP Wildlife Division Director Jenny Dickson seems to be on.
—photograph courtesy of the Save Bobbi’s Cubs Fb web page.

One of many bear cubs in a pet service following its seize.
—photograph courtesy Deborah Galle