Idaho facility: Rules made it impossible to save Washington cub

GARDEN CITY, Idaho — Operators of an Idaho black bear facility say regulatory issues are stifling rehabilitation.

KTVB-TV reported Idaho Black Bear Rehab officials said the facility could have taken in a Washington cub that was recently put down, but the Idaho Department of Fish and Game limits the rehab facility to eight bears at a time.

The department also has to approve orphaned or injured bears coming into Idaho from other states.

Officials say they were never contacted about bringing the cub into Idaho before it was put down.

Idaho fish and game spokesman Mike Keckler says a facility is limited to the number of bears that can move around and stay healthy there at one time.

Rehab outreach director Valerie Stephan-Leboeuf says these limits are arbitrary.