PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
New York environmental officials say
they have dealt with a higher than usual number of wayward bear cubs this year.
A bear cub has been living in
Plattsburgh for the past month. But he isn't the only cub that has wandered
into a populated area. A cub wandered into Saranac Lake last month. And several
have been spotted in the Glens Falls area. A high number have also been hit by
cars on the Northway. Biologists say it due to a robust population of black
bears.
"The theory is, in
2011 there was a lot of bear food, all the bears were healthy, the sows had
more cubs than usual, those cubs survived through the winter last year and this
year there isn't that much food out there with the drought, so the cubs are
scrounging," said Ed Reed of the N.Y. Department of Environmental
Conservation.
Reed said many of the cubs
in the Glens Falls area have been brought to a wildlife refuge because they
were too small to survive the winter. However, he says the bear cub in
Plattsburgh is healthy enough to live on its own and may even den for the
winter where it has been staying near the bike path.
Related Stories:
Plattsburgh bear cub continues to avoid capture
Bear cub calls Plattsburgh home
Bear cub wanders through Plattsburgh
