Orphaned bear captured after visiting Sudbury summer camp

An orphaned Sudbury bear cub has been captured and sent to a southern Ontario wildlife sanctuary.

Last Friday, a mother bear and three cubs were found eating children's lunches at a summer camp.

Police shot the mother bear, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry captured two of the orphaned cubs.

They were taken to a wildlife sanctuary to be cared for, but the search remained for the third cub.

Mike McIntosh, who is with the Bear With Us wildlife sanctuary, said the ministry trapped the bear on Wednesday and he picked it up after that.

Orphaned cubs have a better chance at surviving if they're found sooner than later, he noted.

"Once the mother is killed, even a healthy, chubby, robust cub starts to lose weight. And if they go into hibernation underweight, there's a big chance they will not survive."

McIntosh said the cub is about 25 pounds and is in good health. He will now live with his siblings at the sanctuary. All the cubs will hibernate this winter, and be released into the wild next summer.