Places sought for 2 black bear cubs in Va.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia wildlife officials are seeking placement for two black bear cubs that cannot be released into the wild because they’re comfortable with humans.

The bears were picked up by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries last spring and taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro.

Officials say one of the bears had been kept in a home for 30 days and the other demonstrates characteristics of a young bear kept in close contact with humans.

After being reared by humans, young bears reach a point where they lose their innate mistrust of people and cannot be rehabilitated for release.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia said that if a suitable facility for these bears cannot be found, there will be no option but to euthanize them.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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