Our Black Bear rehabilitation season has become just a little busier.
A fourth orphaned American Black Bear cub (#26-3238) has arrived at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue after being found unconscious in the roadway along Highway 20 with no mother nearby.
The young female is the smallest of the four Black Bear cubs currently in our care. During her initial examination, she showed signs of a head injury and a limp. Further evaluation, including x-rays, revealed a fractured leg, but thankfully her condition continues to improve. She is no longer showing signs of a head injury, and veterinarians believe her leg is already healing on its own and should not cause any long-term problems.
For now, she is recovering in a quiet area of our Black Bear rehabilitation enclosure, separate from the other cubs. Limiting her activity while her leg continues to heal will help reduce the chance of reinjury. Once she is ready, she will join the other cubs as they all continue to grow, heal, and prepare for their return to the wild.
The three cubs announced last week are also doing well. The cub recovering from a gunshot wound to his hind leg (#26-3076) is nearly ready to join the sibling pair, and all three are already able to see and smell one another through neighboring enclosures. With the recent hot temperatures, their large water tubs have quickly become a favorite place to cool off between naps in the shade.
We’ll continue sharing updates as all four cubs progress through rehabilitation.
If you’d like to support their care, please consider making a donation. Caring for Black Bear cubs is one of the most specialized and long-term rehabilitation programs we provide, and every gift helps provide the food, veterinary care, enrichment, and daily care these cubs will need as they grow toward their return to the wild. There are two great ways to donate – of course monetary donations are incredibly important and always in need, but we can also accept specific food donations to help keep these growing cubs fed (which requires a LOT of food!).
If you encounter a Black Bear cub alone, please contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (916-358-2917), which is responsible for assessing these situations and determining when rehabilitation is necessary.
