A large public outcry has likely had a major impact on the Alberta government's decision to change its position on rehabilitating orphan black bears under one year of age.

This week, the Alberta government reversed a policy that has been on the books since 2010 to euthanize orphan black bears. Instead, Alberta Fish and Wildlife staff will work with rehabilitation facilities to ensure orphan black bear cubs are safely returned to the wild whenever possible.

Fish and Wildlife will be relying heavily on the expertise and facilities at the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI), 25k northwest of Cochrane, which has been involved with wildlife rescue for over 50 years.

"While there are 10 in the province, we expect to begin working most closely with the Cochrane Ecological Institute because they are closest to being ready to accept orphan black bears that might be reported," explains Matt Dykstra, Environment and Parks press secretary. "Some of the other rehabilitation facilities might not be as ready or as appropriate."

These are words CEI co-owner Clio Smeeton has been waiting to hear since the euthanize policy was instituted in 2010. She's been dealing with Fish and Wildlife on the issue since then and has been handcuffed from taking actions to help orphan cubs because the Institute would face a $50,000 fine.

"I’m so thrilled the government has listened and they have developed this protocol which enables us to take bear cubs," says Smeethen.

Some upgrades on their enclosures will be required but otherwise, they're ready to take in orphan cubs.

"We haven’t had any bears since 2010 and so the bear enclosures have been the last place we spent money because we weren't sure if we were going to get bears again."

Orphans could arrive at any time now that the bear hunting season is open.

"Every spring during bear hunts, female bears do get killed accidentally and then there’s the roads and the railway tracks. There's a lot of things out there that can kill bears and orphan cubs."

She believes attention was drawn to the outstanding issue, first by the three bear cubs found in a washroom in Banff National Park and then by  "Russell" a yearling who for three months was seen limping in the Redwood Meadows area and couldn't be assisted.

"I’ve been writing to them, sending protocols to them since 2010, but I think that what really got them listening more was the big fuss over the bear at Bragg Creek, because so many commuters going to work and coming home from work saw him he sitting in that field, so people expressed interest. People kept phoning me and saying, 'Do something" and I had to say I can’t because the policy forbids me and if you want something done talk to your MLA or Fish and Wildlife."

Apparently, they did and Russell received regular attention in the media and the cubs found in Banff drew international exposure. Meetings were held to discuss the issue and over 8,0000 people signed a petition.

Dykstra says the Banff incident on Apr. 1, 2017 did get the ball rolling on examining the protocol with fresh eyes and led to the draft policy, still subject to some refinement.

"It's been about a year of that work, looking at the science, consulting and engaging with rehabilitation centres like the Cochrane Ecological Institute,  and setting out a protocol that we think will work for our rehabilitation centres," says Dykstra.

Fish and Wildlife prefers to release bears back into the wild if they are old enough and anre't shown to be a threat.

For orphan cubs sent to rehabilitation centres return to the wild is not always possible, explains Dykstra.

If they are not able to forge on their own or if they are unable to socialize with other bears or are thought to be a threat for human-bear conflict, they would attempt to find a Canadian zoo that will take them.

"Euthanization would be considered the absolute last resort and in our protocol, our main reason for that approach is if a bear is found injured where the most humane option is euthanization."

Alberta continues to euthanize cubs of other large mammals but that may also be examined in the future.

"We started with the orphan black bears and I think we are open to looking at other large mammal protocols," says Dykstra.

While anxious to see rehabilitation measures taken for cubs of other large mammals, Smeeton says now's not the time to be too aggressive.

"That’s the next thing that needs to be looked at, but let's take the baby steps first."

After being assessed, the bears will be released on or before Oct. 15 of the year they arrived at the facility and will not be overwintered at a facility unless special approval is given.

Released bears will be fitted with monitoring devices such as ear tags and will be tracked by scientists to ensure successful reintegration into the wild.