Officer Thomas Owens, a trooper serving in the Carroll Police Department of New Hampshire, responded to a distinctive situation.
A black bear family attempting to traverse a road, according to a statement by the NH State Police. Instead of swiftly making their way across, the mother bear, accompanied by a quartet of playful cubs, engaged in a game of back-and-forth.
Upon Trooper Owens’ intervention, he encountered the mother bear, who appeared to be pacing on the road, as recounted by The Dodo. It didn’t take him long to grasp the reason behind this behavior. The Town of Carroll Police Department already acquainted with the particular bear family in question.
(Photo Credit: Facebook/Town of Carroll Police Department)
In a compelling Facebook post, the department recounted the story of the mother bear with an extraordinary brood of five cubs in Bretton Woods. The previous day had seen the department rescuing one of her offspring. A runt plagued by illness and weakness, incapable of keeping pace with its mother and siblings.
A comment from the Town of Carroll Police Department illuminated the rarity of a bear bearing five cubs, as opposed to the usual two or three. “This is a truly exceptional occurrence, exceedingly uncommon. It’s only the second such instance known in NH.” the department conveyed.
As the mother bear endeavored to lead her four remaining cubs across the road, Reshareworthy reported that at least one of the cubs displayed reluctance to budge. The mother engaged in a back-and-forth, coaxing the cub to follow suit. Evidently, she was determined to keep her quartet of cubs together. However the ill and feeble condition of one prevented it from keeping up with its healthier siblings.
Recognizing the need for intervention, Trooper Thomas Owens sprang into action. “Engaging in some bear traffic management, we had to bring one bear cub to Fish and Game for rehabilitation, given its inability to match the pace of its mother and siblings due to weakness,” explained the department. “This now leaves her with three robust cubs to care for attentively. The other two will undergo rehabilitation until they regain strength. Subsequently being released back into the wild.”
Trooper Thomas Owens (Photo Credit: Facebook/NH State Police)
Vigilantly, Trooper Owens observed the scene, and with the passage of time, the mother bear arrived at a poignant choice. To reluctantly abandon the ailing cub and press forward alongside the sturdy trio.