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3 female grizzly cubs found

North Okanagan conservation officers have been busy the past month trying to find three juvenile female grizzly bears that have been jeopardizing public safety.

CO Ken Owens said the cubs were from the Sicamous Area and had been accessing unprotected natural and non-natural attractants near residences.

“Outreach was done in an effort to ensure these bears remained wild, and did not encounter any non-natural attractants that would dispose them to becoming food conditioned,” said Owens.

The bears continued to eat corn and fruit near residences near the southern extent of the Columbia Shuswap Grizzly Bear population unit.

"The bears behaviour and level of habituation was assessed and they were deemed to be good candidates for translocation," he said.

Conservation officers worked with Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operations Wildlife Branch Biologists for four days to capture and remove all three bears.

“All three grizzly bears were successfully captured, tranquilized, ear tagged and trans located to the far end of their home range within the Monashee Mountains,” Owens said.

Conservation officers hope the cubs will thrive in their new location in the hopes of producing new offspring.



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