2 Newtown Bear Cubs Located After Mother Bear Was Shot: DEEP

NEWTOWN, CT — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has located the cubs of the mother bear shot in Newtown Thursday.

DEEP officials said the animals appear to be in good health. Due to the safety risks associated with public interaction, they will be relocated, once they are captured. State wildlife biologists are urging residents to stay away from the cubs to allow them to remain in the area, and so facilitate their capture

The bear was shot by an off-duty Ridgefield police officer, according to a statement released by the RPD. Local law enforcement in Newtown and Ridgefield are not involved in the investigation, which is being led by DEEP's Environmental Conservation Police.

Connecticut has banned the killing of bears, except in self-defense when someone believes the animal is going to kill or seriously injure a person.

The bear, "Bobbi," was a popular visitor in her neighborhoods around Newtown, Redding and Bethel. Alternately known as "#217" due to the DEEP ID tag on her ear, she was the topic of a local Facebook group, currently filled with memorial comments who called her "a gentle giant."