Friday, Aug 04, 2006
Black bear cub tumbles to death in Alberta park

A bear named Timberline and her surviving cub have been moved to the far end of Kananaskis Country.
(CBC News)

(CBC) - A black bear cub set to be moved from an Alberta provincial park after run-ins with unleashed dogs has died.

The cub fell out of a tree as conservation officers tried to round up the animal's mother and a second cub on July 28.

The sow was captured in a bear culvert trap, but the cubs scrambled up a tree to stay close to their mother, Glen Naylor, the area's conservation officer, said Friday.

The first cub was captured without any problems, but the second cub climbed higher in the tree after being hit with a tranquillizer dart.

Before conservation officers could get into position to catch the cub in a bear blanket, the animal fell to its death, said Naylor.

The bear's mother - a 23-year-old sow nicknamed Timberline by area residents - had been in the area of Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park for at least eight years.

Officials decided to move Timberline and her two cubs to a more remote location because of pet owners who weren't following rules requiring them to keep their dogs on leashes.

The bear had never shown aggressive behaviour until this summer, said Naylor.

Naylor suspects the hostility arose after the bear and its cubs were chased by dogs that had been illegally left off leashes.

Timberline and the surviving cub have been moved to the Plateau Mountain Area at the far south end of Kananaskis Country.

Naylor says Timberline faces challenges in her new home.

"It obviously doesn't know the area that well and there are other issues with other wildlife to deal with wherever it goes to. It's a stressful period for animals."
© the CBC, 2006