LOS ALAMOS, N.M. – A female bear and three cubs found raiding the neighborhood trash in Los Alamos have been safely captured and moved to a new, more appropriate hunting ground in the countryside of western New Mexico.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said Wednesday that seven conservation officers worked around the clock over two days to capture and relocate the four bears. They were all healthy and had not been captured by the agency in the past.

The agency says the bears were in danger of getting used to finding their food in neighborhoods where people live.

Department Director Mike Sloane says people who live in cities can help wildlife by trying not to leave out things like pet food and open trash receptacles in their yards and neighborhoods that can attract bears and other wild animals.