Last week, a lone black bear cub was found wandering near homes in the Harris Ranch area outside Boise, with no mother in sight. Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) trapped the cub safely, but instead of sending it to a rehabilitation facility, biologists decided to euthanize it, saying it was "unlikely to survive on its own if relocated and was not a candidate for rehabilitation," according to IDFG officials.

IDFG says this is normal during a tough year — drought across the Southwest Region has shrunk the natural food supply, pushing more bears into towns and neighborhoods in search of food. Officials said the agency has already received "numerous reports" of bears near homes and businesses this year, many drawn in by unsecured trash, pet food, or fallen fruit left out in yards.

That may explain why cubs are showing up alone near people more often. But it doesn't explain why euthanasia is treated as the only option once one is caught. Idaho doesn't have to choose between releasing an unprepared cub back into the wild and killing it. Other states invest in wildlife rehabilitation centers built to give orphaned or injured cubs like this one a real chance at survival before they're ever captured.

Idaho Fish and Game should commit to using rehabilitation and relocation as the default response for bear cubs found without their mothers, and only turn to euthanasia when a licensed wildlife veterinarian confirms no other option exists.

Sign the petition to demand Idaho Fish and Game prioritize saving orphaned bear cubs — before another one is killed instead of given a chance.