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Orphaned Monrovia Bear Cubs Begin Low-Contact Rehab at San Diego Wildlife Center

DNA links to two encounters prompted the mother’s euthanasia, highlighting California’s safety-first policy around human–bear conflicts.

Overview

  • The San Diego Humane Society said Tuesday the two male cubs from Monrovia are under round-the-clock care at its Ramona Wildlife Center.
  • The siblings, estimated at two to three months old, arrived March 15th and will spend months in rehabilitation with the goal of release once they can survive on their own.
  • Handlers wear bear masks and use animal furs and scents to disguise themselves so the cubs do not learn to associate people with food or care.
  • State wildlife officials said DNA tied the adult female to two public-safety incidents, including a June 2025 swipe at an elderly man and a March encounter with a woman walking her dog, and they euthanized the bear after an assessment.
  • Monrovia’s city manager said local leaders sought relocation to the Angeles National Forest, but the state defended euthanasia as a safety measure and urged residents to secure trash, pet food, and crawl spaces to cut future conflicts.