A mother bear died during a capture operation at an Albuquerque golf course, and wildlife officials plan to relocate her two surviving cubs to a safer habitat.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
A mother bear died Monday during a capture operation at Tanoan Country Club in northeast Albuquerque, leaving behind two cubs that wildlife officials plan to relocate.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue assisted the New Mexico Department of Wildlife in the operation. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the Department of Wildlife reported that the mother bear died from injuries sustained during the sedation and trapping process.
Nirankar Horak, executive director of the Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation, said the outcome is difficult for those who work to protect animals.
“It’s unfortunate. You know, we always want to keep moms and their cubs together for as long as they naturally would be together. And so anytime that we can do that is ideal,” Horak said.
Horak explained that while these operations are intended to protect animals, the results are not always predictable.
“Unfortunately, sometimes with a drop, there are consequences that come with that,” she said.
Wildlife officials told the Journal they plan to relocate the cubs to a suitable habitat away from populated areas. Horak added that her foundation has not been contacted to take in the cubs but noted that whether young bears need rehabilitation depends on several factors.
“If they’re of good health, good weight, and right now the rule is 35 pounds or more, then we’re probably not going to see them come in,” Horak said.
As more bears continue to enter populated areas, Horak said wildlife officials are facing increasing pressure to respond. Despite the tragic outcome of Monday’s capture, she emphasized that the Department of Wildlife is doing its best with the resources available.
“We need to work better at making these bears move along as the general public, and not just rely on our game department which is so overwhelmed, especially this year, by the amount of calls,” Horak said.
Wildlife experts are reminding New Mexicans to secure their trash, remove outdoor food sources, and never approach or feed a bear.
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has not yet provided additional information about the capture or the current condition of the cubs.