Three bear cubs that were rescued last year after their mother was struck and killed by a car were released back into the wild last week.
The incident happened last April near Oracle. The three female cubs were rescued by Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers with the help of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Hayden police and a Good Samaritan.
The cubs were taken to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, where they were cared for over the last year.
The cubs' release into a remote area in central Arizona was conducted by Game and Fish and the conservation center.
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Three bear cubs that were rescued last year after their mother was hit by a car were released back into the wild.
George Andrejko / Arizona Game and Fish Department
"Right now is about the time they would be leaving their mother and venturing out on their own, so we’re trying to simulate that as best we can in a controlled environment," James O’Brien, the center's clinic manager and veterinary technician, said in a news release. "We’ve minimized human contact in caring for them. They are big enough and ready to be released back into the wild."
Before the release into the wild, the bears were fitted with GPS ear tags that allow biologists to monitor the bears' movements, "helping assist bear management in the future," according to the news release.
Game and Fish supervisor Pat Crouch said because the bears are healthy, haven't posed a risk to the public and have been cared for "in a manner that minimized the chance of habituation to their human caretakers," releasing the bears back into the wild was a "viable option."
Related gallery: Photos of wildlife babies in Southern Arizona
33 photos of wildlife babies in Southern Arizona
Backyard bobcats
Updated
Aug 5, 2019
David Burford snapped some photos of a mama bobcat and her three kittens in the backyard of his Oro Valley home.
David Burford
Backyard bobcats
Updated
Aug 5, 2019
David Burford snapped some photos of a mama bobcat and her three kittens in the backyard of his Oro Valley home.
David Burford
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Jul 23, 2019
Steve and Sandy Sutherland caught this fawn outside their far east-side home. Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, says the animal could be a mule deer.
Courtesy Steve and Sandy Sutherland
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Bobcat kitten on the wall
By ROB BOONE
Mom with her 3 owlets
Updated
Sep 11, 2018
Great horned owl in midtown with her 3 baby owlets
By Kathy Krucker
Quail Chicks
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
One week old quail chicks run with their mother at amazing speed even in 100+ Tucson temperatures.
By Scott Young
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Bobcat kittens in a tree
By ROB BOONE
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
Linda Wallace-Gray took this photo this spring at her home in the Tucson Mountains. "This female javelina had twins although only one is in this picture. If you look closely this baby was just born as it still has its cord. ÊShe is a very attentive and caring mother. ÊThe herd comes by regularly and are very fun to watch." Submitted by Linda Wallace-Gray.
Linda Wallace-Gray
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
Mom and Baby Mourning Dove
By Robert Patterson
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Bobcat kitten in a tree
By ROB BOONE
Mama and baby
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
A female Bobcat and her cub rested in the shade of a shrub for an hour or so, in a patio yard in Green Valley, AZ
By Wayne Burk
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Jul 7, 2018
Carrie Robin took this photo Tuesday, April 24, 2018.
Carrie Robin
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
This is one of 14 quail that I rescued after opening my front door and seeing a bobcat, on our front patio, eating the mother who sat on her eggs for weeks...that night I came home and 9 were hatched. I fed them then took them and the remaining eggs to the wildlife sanctuary...with one hatching in the car on the way!!! Just thought it was cute!!! and this baby is not even 24 hours old!!!! look how big already!!!
Dee Dee McCabe, of Oro Valley
Southern Arizona snakes
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
A tiny baby snake the size of a quarter
By Sven olson
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Bobcat kitten on the ground
By ROB BOONE
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
Sep 10, 2018
Came home from a short trip to find this mama raising her family in our courtyard right outside front door! She had triplets but one of the babies got stuck in our gate and died. She was fiercely protective of her remaining two and put them in the tree every morning as she hunted. They spent the heat of the day sleeping and playing in the cool, right at our front door!
By Marja Walker
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Bobcat kitten napping on our porch
By J Kenneth Hester
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Baby Javelina with mom
By Mark Wolfson
Southern Arizona Wildlife Babies
Updated
May 2, 2018
Baby bunny taking refuge behind flower pot.
By Huguette Orendi
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
Ocelot pair near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
Ocelot pair near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
Puma kitten near Nácori Chico, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
A pair of pumas near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
A pair of pumas near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
A Panthera near Granados, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
A Panthera near Granados, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer and fawn near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer and fawn in Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer and fawn in Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer in Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
White-tailed deer near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Wildlife, babies, Mexico
Updated
Jul 31, 2020
Coatis near Divisaderos, Sonora
Courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Primero Conservation
Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott