Wildlife park: Bear cubs rescued after mother is euthanized

This photo provided by the wildlife park Bearizona in Williams, Arizona shows two orphaned bear cubs on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. The bear cubs have been placed in the care of the wildlife rescue park near the Grand Canyon after their mother was euthanized. The park said the four-month-old black bears were rescued from a treetop in Arizona’s White Mountains, and were so small a climber was able to lower them to safety in a backpack. The park says the Arizona Game and Fish Department was forced to euthanize the cubs’ mother after twice removing her from a residential area in the town of Pinetop-Lakeside. (Bearizona via AP)

WILLIAMS, Arizona — A wildlife rescue park south of the Grand Canyon is caring for two orphaned cubs after their mother was euthanized.

The four-month-old black bears had been rescued from a treetop in Arizona’s White Mountains over the weekend.  A local tree trimmer carried one down in a backpack, and the other male climbed down on its own.

Their new home is at Bearizona in Williams.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department said it euthanized the cubs’ mother because she had already been removed twice from a residential area the town of Pinetop-Lakeside.

Spokesman Bill Andres said a local resident was issued with a written warning for leaving out a buffet of strawberries, oatmeal, peanuts, and water for the bears.

He said authorities learned the adult bear had cubs only after she was put down. /kga