There’s a heartwarming story making the rounds.
Wildlife rescuers have taken in an orphaned black bear cub in California, found sick and starving in national forests.
This two-month-old cub was discovered on April 12 by a California fish and wildlife biologist in Los Padres National Forest; it had been separated from its mother. Reports say it’s now receiving care.
“When he got here, he was in pretty bad shape,” said Autumn Welch, who manages operations at the Ramona Wildlife Center, capturing the cub’s early days in care.
Initially, the little bear showed serious health issues when it was rescued.
“He had gone a few days without food, which was worrying. But now? He’s eating well, very active, and gaining weight steadily,” Welch shared with Kusi. It’s quite incredible, really.
Welch noted that this situation felt somewhat “unusual.”
Now, this adorable bear, with its brown coat, is comfortably nursing from a bottle and seems to have a bit of personality, offering some serious side-eye to onlookers.
The San Diego Humane Society is addressing not just its nutrition but ensuring it remains wild at heart, striking an interesting balance in care.
A photo from the Society shows the cub enjoying playtime, snuggling with a stuffed animal and playing with a rubber dog toy.
The plan is to reintroduce this bear into the wild once it reaches a year old.
A similar initiative is underway in Hunter, New York, where another orphaned bear cub is being rehabilitated by a local animal rescue group after being abandoned.
Interestingly, the survival rate for reintroduced orphan black bears is comparable to those raised by their mothers, according to a study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management.
California’s Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that about 80,000 black bears reside in the state.
