Baby black bears orphaned after mother killed

Manitoba Conservation is investigating the killing of a mother bear who was illegally shot this week.

The location of a bear’s den north of Balmoral was posted to social media a few weeks ago, according to Judy Stearns, who co-owns Black Bear Rescue Manitoba with her husband.

Stearns warned the online audience not to disclose the co-ordinates out of fear something bad could happen.

“I did a post on our Facebook page to get the word out that people shouldn’t be doing this,” she said Wednesday.

“I said the reasons why: extra traffic and people may be approaching the bear and getting the bear habituated, and then less afraid of people. And then also my big concern, someone that doesn’t like bears is going to go there in the dark of night and do something.”

On Tuesday, Judy’s husband, Roger, went to the area to check on the bears and found the mother bear had been shot and killed. The pair are now caring for the mother’s three orphaned cubs.

Manitoba Conservation released a poster asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Selkirk conservation officers. The shooting is believed to have happened between 7:30 p.m., MondayMarch 30and 1 p.m., TuesdayMarch 31. The bear’s body was located on the east side of Road 6E, a few kilometres north of Balmoral.

A provincial spokesperson said no charges have been laid.

Stearns is frustrated because she explicitly told the online community to keep the bear’s location under wraps and tried to placate any fears from nearby residents.

Social media posts viewed by the Free Press show multiple social media users discussing the location of the bear, posting photos of the mother and her cubs and some expressing fears the bear could encroach on nearby cattle farms.

“At this time of year, bears are still at their den and they wouldn’t be leaving their winter location for some time. She was not a risk to anyone, and it was an unfair situation,” Stearns said

Stearns said she called Manitoba Conservation to warn them about the situation, but they told her there was little they could do.

“So that left it up to me,” she said, noting she used her platform as a black bear rescuer to warn people not to approach the bears or disclose where the den was.

In Manitoba, it is illegal to kill a black bear with cubs, shoot one through the window of a vehicle or hunt bears out of season. Black bear hunting season begins April 28.

Roger Stearns does not believe the bear was hunted for meat or any body parts. When he checked the bear’s corpse, it was still intact.

Bears coming out of hibernation in the spring pose little danger to humans and pets, and look to be left alone while they reintegrate back into nature, according to Chris Benson, manager of hunter education and programs for the Manitoba Wildlife Federation.

When they first emerge from their dens, bears seek to eat lots of greens to kick-start their digestive system. After that, they will begin to move away from their winter habitat to forage.

“It’s a rarity for bears to attack, as soon as they see a human or smell it, they tend to take off running. They want nothing to do with people,” Benson said.

If backed into a corner, though, bears could become protective, and people going out into nature should be “bear aware,” Benson said.

If a bear den is located, people should make others aware, but the den should be left alone. However, people should be mindful of garbage and bird feeders, as they can attract bears.

According to provincial data, coyotes make up 75 per cent of wildlife damage compensation for livestock predation claims. Wolves make up 20 per cent of claims, while black bears, cougars and foxes make up the remaining five per cent.

Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie said the province will work with the Black Bear Rescue to nurse the cubs back to health. Bushie urged people who encounter a bear that could pose a threat to call Manitoba Conservation.

The minister discouraged people from posting the location of animals on social media because it could put them in harm’s way.

The orphaned triplets are Black Bear Rescue’s first guests of 2026. Stearns has three yearling bears (a year old or that are in their second year) already in its care.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca