Bear cub Makoon released into wild

“Releasing a 5 month old into the wild was a death sentence for the cub. Does everything have to be so ass-backward in this world?

“I am deeply saddened by the lack of respect the governemt holds for animals in this province.
How can there be no protocal for this type of sitution...blows my mind; especially in this day in age! Laws need to be changed and we as humans need to start to respect nature and animals.

“I don't get it. What in the HELL would posess these people to do this early release, if it's going to result in almost certain death for the animal???
Here's an idea: take whatever fat pampered politician made this decision, and drop them off in the bush somewhere. Let 'em see first hand what it takes to survive.
Now, I know there's two sides to every story, and the province may have had legitimate reasons for commiting to this early release. Still, it's hard to believe there could be any justifiable rationale for a discision such as this.
What's that old saying about power rising to the level of it's incompetency?

“makoon should not have been released

“I can tell you now that I won't be voting for
them or even supporting anything this Governement
is subject to. If they do this to animals, imagine
they don't care about the people. You lost my vote and I believe many others. Absolute Power corrupts absolutely. Shame on you, and I hope payback gets them
when least expected.

“It is simply inhumane to send these cubs out to nature at such a tender age. I hope the WHS will pursue all legal avenues, and find a way that these cubs be retrapped and rehabilitated properly. We, as a society, must have more respect for nature - whether they are food animals, pets or predators.

“This very disturbing decision by "experts" needs to be challenged! Email your MLA, Provincial Minister of Natural Resources, the Premier - let them know that your vote will reflect their inability to make reasonable decisions!

“With all due respect for the WHS, an organization that I support and volunteer for, you have got it wrong. Everything you suggest has been backed up with sentimentality instead of science. The experts WHS uses haven't been very forthcoming with their opinions, but have chosen to remain in the background it seems.

Research on on the survival of orphaned black bear cubs has been done in the U.S. and in one study 9 out of 11 cubs survived for the length of the study, 180 days, and there is no reason to believe that they didn't go on to live a full bear life. The other two cubs could not be located but neither were found dead, so it's possible that 100% of the released cubs survived.

Their release weights were anywhere from 19-32 kg, with an average of 25 kg. The study claimed that black bear cubs are self-sufficient at around 5.5 to 6.5 months.

I think it's very unbecoming to demonize people at Natural Resources and call them names. We all love animals, but understand that pets and wild animals are different. You don't do wild animals a favor by making them dependent on humans.

“I am having a great deal of difficulty coming to grips with the WHS position on this issue. The bear is a wild animal and should never have been picked up by the gentleman who took him home and paraded him around to the media. He may have had good intentions but that fateful decision was the worst thing for the bear's interests and now it's easy to lay blame at everyone who is trying to fix this mess. the WHS is making this whole thing worse by threats of legal action and other nonsense. I can no longer support this organization unless we stick to our knitting and help those animals truly in need which are not wild animals and which are suffering needlessly. Let's get on with it for goodness sake.

“What did you really expect from this government?? They do whatever they want - it doesn't matter what the people say or want. They won't lose any sleep over these 2 little guys you can count on that.

“I am thoroughly disgusted at Conservation. I am not surprised by what they did, as they have a record of not protecting or helping wildlife but KILLING them instead. CONSERVATION SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS! Those helpless cubs need to be rescued soon before they die. WHS don't give up! I am behind you all the way.

“I am appalled at this outcome for the two little ones that were sent out. We need to go find them and shelter them until the appropriate time. Lets do this to our puppies and kittens and see what would happen to us civilians, or better yet our children.
Reallllllllyy think about it what was the big deal of setting them out so soon. The govt has done stupid things but this takes the cake. What would 1 more year really of done. Places were willing to take him.
Shame on you whoever made this horrendous mistake. I would be surprised if they survive until the winter.

“It's bad enough that these two cubs will die, but it will be a bad death. Death by starvation is slow, painful and cruel. It would have been kinder to painlessly euthanize them, and even better to have simply hung on to them for a few more months until they could defend themselves. Would that have been too hard?

“I hope the Aboriginals and Humane Society of Canada, get on Manitoba's Ass and ride it till they go and get these 2 little bears back. This is so inhumane and such a disgusting decision to make for the fate of these little guys.

“I will be contacting my MLA and anyone in the government who was responsible for this ridiculous decision. Thanks to the Humane Society for getting ready to fight for the little cubs.

“That is really sad to know that now most likely both little bears have a death sentance.

“The error occurred when the wild cub was taken in by people. The mother was nearby. THIS action orphaned the cub. It is illegal to do that. The public needs to be reminded that Conservation Officers are highly educated and experienced and know what to do. They did take care of the cub. It is not the small cute animal you see on the biased news clips. It is old enough to live in the wild where it belongs. Plus, Officers would not release it in an area with predators. Don't be so quick to assume the worst in people and expect the worst results. That's the drama of news reporting. The little bears will be the happiest in their natural environment. End of story.

“
I FIND IT VERY DISTURBING TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CRUEL UNITELLIGENT PEOPLE IN OUR CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT. I HOPE THAT THOSE THAT MADE THIS RECKLESS DECISION CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT.

“I hope that somehow Makoon & the other young cub survive. We have to pray that they make it through. I dont know if removing people from their jobs will do any good. However if we could have a panel that represents all views on this issue before any more young animals are released. I know this would be a better option than one person making a unilateral decision.

“I can understand peoples concern for the cub. As young as he is, it would seem wrong to release him. However, unlike our pet dogs and cats a bear starts learning to survive the moment it's born. He may be only a few months old but he already knows how to forage and hide from predictors, his mother would have seen to that. This is not a puppy that has been pulled from a dumpster, or a cat taken from an abusive home. This is a wild animal that has more survival instinct at a few months than most adult humans. If people want to blade someone for Makoons situation, start with the persons who pulled him from his natural environment! Did they likely saved his life, yes, but made him the center of attention that is misplaced. If Winnipegers/ Manitobans want to do something for animal rights, start with all the people who abuse animals every day in your own back yard. Call out, report and stand up to the people who think they can treat an animal anyway they want because they own it. And leave Mother Nature to take care of the wild animals. What right do we have to complain about the treatment of a bear cub by Mather Nature or, by people who have degrees in the conservation of wild life, when we are so disgustingly pathetic about how we treat our domestic animals.