Abstract 72 – Successfully returning American black bear (Ursus americanus) cubs-of-the-year to the wild after being orphaned and raised in captivity

Paul Frame

Prior to spring 2018, provincial policy in Alberta prohibited the captive rearing and release
(CRR) of orphan black bear (Ursus americanus) cubs (OBBC), a practice referred to as
rehabilitation. Even with black bear populations reported to be stable or increasing range-wide
in North America, Alberta responded to public pressure and officially allowed CRR of OBBCs by
developing the Alberta Orphan Black Bear Cub Rehabilitation Protocol. This protocol guides
details around the intake, care, and release of OBBCs in Alberta. The preferred strategy
described in the protocol is to release cubs-of-the-year (COY) in late October of their first year,
thus allowing them to den in the wild and emerge in spring as free-living bears. This strategy
has met resistance from the public, who raise concerns about the age of self-sufficiency in black
bears. In Alberta, all CRR OBBC released since 2018 (n= 18) have been monitored with GPS
tracking collars to evaluate over-winter survival. To date, 12 COY have been released in late
October (average 157 days in captivity, range 93-204 days), and all 12 successfully denned and
emerged in spring. Cubs denned an average of 7 days (range 3-19 days) after release. The
denning period of CRR cubs averaged 166 days (range 154-184 days), similar to that reported
for all age and reproductive classes in Maine (Range 134-197). Although our sample is small and
the cubs were artificially fed and in abnormally good body condition, all 12 COY released in late
October successfully overwintering without their mother provides some insight to the age of
self-sufficiency in black bears. These results also support the Alberta strategy to release COYs in
late October and may be relevant to other jurisdictions facing similar pressures.