Dear Ms. Roulet,

Thank you so much for your assurances to protect the three healthy cubs as best you can without disturbing them to any great degree. They need time to grieve for their mother and re-adapt to their situation. Thank goodness there are three siblings and they will watch out for each other. If something bad happens to one or all three at least they were given the chance at freedom and being wild. If their mother could speak now that is what she would want for her offspring, just a chance. I have heard your office has consulted with grizzly and black bear rehabber, Leona Green in Dawson Creek. She will have told you these cubs are young but know how to forage for food and den when the time comes. Bears are incredibly instinctive animals and many, many orphans survive in the wild on their own. You and your department are following the right path and I commend your efforts. Thank you.

As we all know the bigger question is 'Will Albertans go the distance to protect great tracks of land to protect some of the grizzly populations they have left?' This remains to be seen. As a Bear Advocate in BC we can learn many hard lessons from the Alberta situation.

Good luck and may winter come soon for these cubs.
Barb Murray
BC Bear Advocate
North Vancouver
604-924-0807

-----Original Message-----
From: Banff.Superintendent@pc.gc.ca [mailto:Banff.Superintendent@pc.gc.ca]
Sent: August 25, 2005 10:29 AM
To: Banff.Superintendent@pc.gc.ca
Subject: Bear 66 and cubs

After Friday`s death of grizzly sow #66 there have been many questions and
concerns raised regarding the future of her three cubs. I appreciate the
public concern for the cubs.

Parks Canada staff and community members have spent literally thousands of
hours trying to keep bear #66 and her cubs alive in the busy areas around
the Town of Banff.

Parks Canada resource staff are closely monitoring the cubs and examining
possible options. Our goal is to determine if we can keep these bears in
the Banff ecosystem over the long term. In a similar situation four years
ago, grizzly sow #56`s two young of year cubs successfully denned after the
loss of their mother in September. Also working in the favour of #66`s cubs
is this year’s excellent berry crop, so food should not be a limiting
factor.

Parks Canada has invested a great deal of resources into Bear 66 and her
cubs, and our decisions will be carefully considered and based on the best
available science. We will continue to monitor the situation while we
investigate all possibilities.

Sincerely,

Jillian Roulet
Superintendent
Banff National Park
Banff Field Unit