Two bear cubs are set to be trapped and relocated after their mother died during a capture at an Albuquerque golf course this week, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The agency determined that trapping the cubs was the safest course of action once the mother was gone, The Cool Down reported.
I compared the report with the state’s wildlife handling guidelines, which list relocation as the standard response when cubs are left orphaned in an urban setting. The mother bear had been captured at the golf course, and the cubs remained in the area after her death, creating a public safety concern for the surrounding neighborhoods.
What happened at the golf course
The incident unfolded at a course in Albuquerque, where the adult female bear was taken into custody by Game and Fish officers. The Cool Down did not specify how the mother died during the capture, and the agency has not released further details on the cause. What is clear is that the two cubs were left alone, and the department moved quickly to set traps in the area.
New Mexico has seen a steady number of bear encounters in urban fringe areas over the past decade, with the state’s bear population expanding into foothill communities. Albuquerque sits near the Sandia Mountains, a corridor that bears use seasonally, and golf courses with water features and landscaping can draw them into populated zones.
What this means for New Mexico homeowners
For residents in Albuquerque and other foothill communities, this case is a reminder that leaving food sources accessible, unsecured trash, pet food bowls, or bird feeders, can bring bears closer to homes. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish advises homeowners to secure trash in bear-resistant containers and remove attractants, especially during fall when bears are bulking up for winter.
If you see a bear in your yard, the agency recommends giving it space and not approaching it. The department’s website lists contact numbers for reporting bear sightings, and wildlife officers will assess whether a capture is necessary based on the animal’s behavior and location.
The notice is published by The Cool Down at www.thecooldown.com.
