March 8th, 2016 by WCBC Radio
Maryland wildlife officials are concerned that some bear cubs may have been drowned this winter because of fast-melting snow that could have flooded their dens. The Cumberland Times-News reports that the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service will begin checking bear dens on Wednesday. Black bear project leader Harry Spiker says that when weather conditions were similar in the past, crews have gone to dens where cubs were known to have been born in January and the young bears aren't there. He says sometimes drowned cubs are eaten by their mother.
Spiker says crews are hoping to visit the dens of nine radio-collared sows over the next three weeks in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties. Each March, the agency sedates the sows and pulls the cubs for inspection, tagging and veterinary treatment.
.jpg)
