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Bear Cubs from Campground Attack Arrive at Zoo Montana in Billings

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Aug 1, 2010 at 11:21 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 1, 2010 at 11:22 PM MDT

The three grizzly cubs involved in a deadly attack near Yellowstone National Park this past week arrived at Zoo Montana in Billings earlier this morning.

Officials with Zoo Montana say there is plenty of room for the three new bears, but they won't be integrated with the rest of the population just yet.

The cubs will remain in quarantine until October, a standard protocol for any animal brought in from the wild.

Zoo officials say the cubs were underweight when they arrived, possibly explaining their mother's unusual and aggressive behavior.

According to the zoo's executive director, the cubs show some signs of stress, but are expected to fit in smoothly.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chose Zoo Montana because it has certification to house grizzlies
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The cubs will join Bruno and Ozzie, the two grizzly bears currently living at the zoo, once their quarantine is complete.

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mbk said on Sunday, Aug 15 at 4:09 PM

I read that the sow and her cubs were all malnourished. An underweight bear is not a starving bear, on the one hand...however, on the other hand I think they may be downplaying hunger as a factor in the attack. The fact that she had 3 cubs means she was healthy at least until the cubs were born. I read an article that said someone who had camped there two weeks prior to the attack had seen a wildlife photographer leaving bear bait - so it's possible it's a very unfortunate and tragic associated with food made by the mama bear.

Apryl said on Tuesday, Aug 3 at 5:17 PM

Why is his capitalism comment confusing? They are going to use the bears in a zoo for people to view. People will have to pay to see the bears. That is what he meant by capitalism.

Apryl said on Tuesday, Aug 3 at 5:13 PM

They should know the dangers of camping in Yellowstone. Even Elk have been known to be deadly during their mating season. People are still stupid enough to camp there, regardless. She wasn't a rabid bear. Looks like she had some nomnomnom though. It's horrible that the guy died, but maybe his family and friends will wisen up about camping in the woods. Why not stay in a nice clean house and watch camping on TV? Much safer and you don't get bears- unless your mother in law drops by.

WW said on Monday, Aug 2 at 5:46 PM

read the article g-lo. The victims were attacked in their tents in a campground at night. The mother bear wasn't protecting her cubs. What does this have to do with capitalism?

g-lo said on Monday, Aug 2 at 4:35 PM

Where is the mother bear?????Well I guess I know the answer...right,,,she was protecting her cubs...and now they are doomed to a life in a zoo.....that's capitalism for you........

Anonymous said on Monday, Aug 2 at 1:44 PM

Yes anonymous, the bear gets killed. It prevents the bear from becoming a regular predator on humans. Humans don't = lobsters. The people who were attacked were in a campground at night. Bears can't learn to prey on humans in campgrounds.

Anonymous said on Monday, Aug 2 at 11:58 AM

What happened was a tragedy, but humans go into the wild and camp in a bears habitat and the bear gets killed? So if I am a starving human and there is a free lobster dinner in front of me, I can't eat it otherwise I die? How about we smarten up and use more caution when in the wild!!!

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