Bear cubs are orphaned due to a variety of causes. Some of the more common reasons include commercial land use activities i.e. extractive industries like logging, regulated and non-regulated hunting, weather events (particularly drought), road/train accidents, abandonment as a result of food shortages, and conflict situations - mother bears who are involved in conflict with humans are sometimes destroyed, leaving cubs orphaned. Often the cubs are destroyed as well. Another option for these cubs, if they are too young to survive on their own, is to house them in a rehabilitation centre until they are big enough and old enough to survive on their own, at which time they can be released back to the wild.

Most people do not want to see orphaned cubs die of starvation or be kept in captivity under inhumane conditions. Rehabilitation and release of orphaned cubs is a viable option for handling such an unfortunate situation - cubs don't have to be euthanized.

Nevertheless, the best solution is always prevention. People living in bear country can prevent conflict with bears and reduce the chances of cubs becoming orphaned.

There are basically four options wildlife officials can consider to address orphaned cubs:

1. Leaving cubs in the wild
Leaving a cub in the wild is a viable option if they are old enough to survive alone and have adequate fat reserves. Although brown bear cubs as young as 6 months old are known to have survived in the wild after being orphaned, and American black bear cubs as young as 5 to 7 months of age have survived, information from studying released bears suggests that survival rates are higher for older, larger cubs.

Bear cubs depend primarily on their mothers for protection against predators until they are self-sufficient. The experiences of many rehabilitators suggest that the behaviors and skills cubs need to survive in the wild are instinctive and do not need to be taught to them by their mothers. As a result, the likelihood of cubs surviving without intervention by humans probably increases substantially as they grow older, larger and less vulnerable to predation by adult bears or other carnivores.

The circumstances that led to the orphaning of the cubs also may influence their chances for survival in the wild. Cubs orphaned near human habitation or in habitats influenced by human activities may be at greater risk of becoming habituated or becoming involved in conflict in the future.

The primary advantage of choosing this option is the cubs remain a part of the natural fauna and live at no cost to management authorities. The main disadvantage is they may be less likely to survive than if they were raised in a rehabilitation facility and released when they were older and larger in size.

2. Placing cubs in captivity
Placing orphaned cubs in permanent captivity is the outcome least desirable to many people interested in the welfare of orphaned cubs. Bears are long-lived animals and require relatively large enclosures. Consequently, the demand for bears as display animals by research facilities or zoological institutions is low, so few opportunities exist for placing them in permanent captivity. While this option, too, involves little cost to wildlife management authorities, the cubs are lost to the wild population.

3. Raising and releasing cubs
Rehabilitation facilities offer another viable option for wildlife managers in areas where they are available. These facilities, when operated by experienced persons, have demonstrated that bears can be excellent candidates for release back to the wild.

Survival rates for orphaned cubs do not differ substantially from those of wild cubs, and few animals (less than 2%) become involved in conflict situations within one year of their release. Studies further show that released American black bears even have the ability to function behaviorally as wild bears, evidenced by the fact that many have become reproducing members of the population.

If you suspect that a cub is orphaned, contact the local wildlife agency to make arrangements to take the cub to a certified rehabilitation centre. Generally speaking, cubs can be assumed to be orphaned if a sow has not returned to care for her cubs during an 8 hour period.

Cubs can be caught by baiting a live trap or bear box. Once caught, the cub can be transported in the trap or a dog carrier. This should be done ONLY under the guidance of your local wildlife agency or rehabilitation facility.

Download a list of Rehabilitation Facilities

Rehabilitation Associations in Canada, United States

4. Euthanizing cubs
Euthanasia is clearly a less costly and safer alternative available to wildlife managers. However, many people do not view this option as a positive choice, and it can generate negative publicity for the governmental entity charged with protecting and managing bear populations.