GARDNER, Mass. (WHDH) – Officials rescued two stranded bear cubs in Gardner Monday morning.
Gardner police contacted the Massachusetts Environmental Police and informed them of stranded bear cubs near Betty Spring Road at around 8 a.m. The Environmental Police, along with the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Gardner Fire Department, responded to the scene.
Officials discovered the mother bear had been electrocuted by a nearby high voltage wire and had succumbed to her injuries.
The bear cubs remained in a tree near the wire. Officials were eventually able to rescue the cubs from the tree and they were turned over to MassWildlife.
Residents said they have noticed the bears in the neighborhood recently. Officers located large amounts of corn kernels and sunflower seeds on the ground in the area. Homeowners were cautioned that bears finding bird seed, corn or other bird food will revisit that site.
A veterinarian examined the cubs and said both will be OK. They are now being cared for at a wildlife refuge.
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