Three black bear cubs were captured, processed for identification and released Wednesday near Kingsbury Grade.

The bear cubs, a female and two males estimated to be five months old, were trapped, tranquilized and processed by Nevada Department of Wildlife Biologist Carl Lackey.

The mother was never more than 40 yards away while the cubs were being examined. Processing includes the attachment of identifying ear tags and a microchip, a tattoo on the bear’s inner lip and collection of a hair sample for DNA.

The cubs weighed between 15 and 22 pounds and reunited with their mother after being released. The mother is estimated to be about 19 years old and has had at least three litters and 10 cubs since she was first captured in 2004.

“Besides tagging the female in 2004, we have now tagged the 10 cubs she has had since,” Lackey said in a press statement. “She and her offspring have provided a lot of information to our ongoing research on Nevada’s black bear population.”

Nevada Department of Wildlife has trapped, processed and released nine black bears since July 1. “We are doing our best to keep these bears alive and wild. The information we derive from this ongoing research helps do that,” Lackey said.

“To keep bears like this alive and wild, people throughout the Tahoe Basin need to do a much better job of keeping trash away from these bears. Human sources of food are bad news for bears. We do not need another generation of garbage bears at Lake Tahoe or anywhere else.”

July is Bear Logic Month in Nevada. State wildlife officials are asking people to do everything they can to keep bears safe and wild by removing any attractants on their property that might cause bears to get into trouble.