SPRINGVILLE — Two young bear cubs were relocated to Spanish Fork Canyon Sunday after the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources received multiple reports of the animals visiting homes in the Hobble Creek Canyon area.
Scott Root of the DWR said the bear cubs were caught Thursday and Saturday, respectively, in the Grindstone Canyon area. Root said it is believed the two cubs are siblings and both were driven 30 to 45 minutes away from where they were captured to be released together.
"Both cubs will be fantastic," he said, confirming that neither was injured during the capture and removal process. "They were in good health. They look great."
As many as two or three bears were spotted in the Kelly's Grove campground area of Hobble Creek Canyon beginning Memorial Day weekend. When there were two more encounters the following weekend, wildlife officials posted warning signs near the Hobble Creek Golf Course and advised Springville officials to close the city-owned campground.
A trap was placed in the area, but netted nothing. Residents reported that one of the bears they saw often was blond in color and both of those captured had "darker-colored" hair, Root said. But he said that doesn't mean it's not the same animal.
"They have their winter coat and they have some guard hairs that are often blond when they're younger and they can rub off," Root said.
There is the possibility the blond bear is still on the loose and, if so, wildlife officials will set up another trap. As for the bears who were relocated, each were spray-painted with red on their backs, which will allow for short-term identification should they cause trouble in the future.
"We're hoping they haven't been fed," Root said. "A fed bear is often a dead bear."
A female bear had been killed recently in the area, but Root said it was impossible to tell if the bear was the mother of the cubs. He said they are yearling bears — around a year and a half to two years in age — and may have just been setting out on their own.
"This is about when Mom kicks them out anyway to go live on their own so she can go breed again," Root explained.
Wildlife officials will continue to monitor the Hobble Creek Canyon area. Root said seeing a bear in the wild is a rare treat.
"Consider yourself lucky," he said. "But if you see a bear in a residential area or campground or if it's acting aggressive, that's when you need to call the Division of Wildlife Resources."
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