New Mexico animal rehab taking in orphaned bear cubs after state euthanasia of “problem” bears
Bear cubs being trained to stay away from humans and eventually be released into the wild
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
A bear in Las Vegas, New Mexico, repeatedly entered the same home, even making its way inside multiple times, before being euthanized by the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.
Christian Laumback described the aftermath of the bear’s first visit.
“So we came outside and there was my entire contents of my freezer and dairy drawer all over the floor, consumed, half eaten, melted,” Laumback said.
The Department of Wildlife said it euthanizes bears that revisit homes in search of food or pose a threat to public safety. As of August 19, the department has euthanized 129 bears in New Mexico this year.
In one instance in Cedar Crest, a bear bit someone and was euthanized. The bear had cubs, which were taken to Cottonwood Rehab in Santa Cruz, near Española. The facility is the only one in New Mexico equipped to rehabilitate bears.
“That we need to do to make sure that when they go back out into the wild, they’re not curious about humans,” said Niranker Horak of Cottonwood Rehab.
The facility currently has four cubs whose mothers were euthanized by the Department of Wildlife. The cubs are being trained to avoid humans and residential areas in hopes they will eventually be released back into the wild.
“And so we work on teaching them what the correct food sources are, what tastes and smells they really should be looking for,” said Horak.
Residents are encouraged to help prevent bear encounters by removing fallen fruit from their yards, cleaning and storing grills after use, keeping trash indoors, and avoiding leaving pet food outside.
