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Stateline, Nev. • Wildlife officials say they captured, tagged and released three 5-month-old bear cubs this week on Lake Tahoe's south shore.
Nevada Department of Wildlife officials say the two males and one female were caught in a trap Wednesday near Stateline, Nevada. A state biologist attached ear tags, tattooed the bears' inner lips and gave them a microchip.
Officials say the 19-year-old mother bear was reunited with her cubs once they awoke from being tranquilized.
Black bear biologist Carl Lackey says the agency tagged the mother in 2004, and has been gathering information on her and her litters ever since. Lackey says the tagging effort provides key information about the state's bear population.
Officials also hope the captures instill a fear of humans that will keep the bears out of neighborhoods.