Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/poacher-kills-mama-bear/

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials are asking the public for help in finding the poacher who killed a mother bear in Woodland Park, leaving her two cubs orphaned.

Officials received a report on July 26 about a dead female bear and arrived to find two cubs hiding in a tree. The cubs were rescued and brought to Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation facility.

An autopsy revealed the mother bear had been shot but no further details were released.

The case is ongoing, but a lack of leads has park officials asking for help.

“This is poaching and it’s illegal and we want to catch the person who did this,” said Corey Adler, a CPW district wildlife manager working the case, in a news release. “But we need the public’s help.”

The poacher faces misdemeanor charges with fines up to $3,000 and up to six months in jail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact CPW at 719-227-5200. A reward will be offered if the information provided leads to an arrest and conviction.

The two rescued cubs are learning how to survive on their own and having their natural fear of humans restored. The goal is to release the cubs back into the wild once they are old enough.

The nonprofit takes in orphaned wildlife and trained professionals help the animals learn the necessary skills so they can return to the wild. “This year alone we have taken in 12 orphan bear cubs, 14 fawns, 3 raccoons and 2 badgers,” stated Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation.

da bears t.co/FD7dAUDLvV

— Colorado Parks and Wildlife (@COParksWildlife) September 8, 2021

Officials are determined to find the person responsible.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife takes these situations very seriously,” said Cody Wigner, Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region. “Someone made a decision to kill this animal, orphaning her two cubs. We need to find this person.”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog