Ontario police officer captures lone black bear cub in Petawawa, Ont.

PETAWAWA, Ont. – Ontario Provincial Police say a young black bear cub is now in the care of the Ministry of Natural Resources after being found wandering in a residential area of Petawawa, Ont.

Const. Shawn Peever says police received calls last week from residents who saw no sign of a mother bear and were concerned for the cub.

Peever says Const. Bob Fitzgerald located the cub — which is about the size of a small dog — trying to climb a tree and was able to grab it from behind.

Fitzgerald was then able to put the young bear in a pet carrier that was provided by an area resident.

Peever says without the animal carrier the bear would have torn the back of Fitzgerald’s cruiser apart.

Peever says the cub will be cared for by the MNR until it is old enough to be released.