A two-month-old black bear cub found alone and starving in a California forest is now under the care of wildlife staff at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. The cub, believed to be the youngest ever cared for by the organization, was rescued by campers in Los Padres National Forest after being abandoned by its mother.
The campers discovered the cub on April 12 and wildlife officials attempted to reunite it with its mother to no avail. The cub, weighing only 3lbs and in a debilitated state, was transferred to the Ramona facility for intensive care. After more than a month of dedicated attention, the cub has quadrupled in size to over 12lbs and is thriving.
Staff at the center are going to great lengths to ensure the cub does not imprint on humans, a critical step in preparing it for eventual release back into the wild. Enrichment sessions involving staff in bear costumes, plush toys, and camouflaged headsets are being used to mimic maternal behavior and acclimate the cub to its natural environment.
Autumn Welch, the wildlife operations manager at the center, emphasized the importance of minimizing human-bear conflicts by keeping the cub wild and independent of human interaction. Bears are intelligent and food-motivated creatures, making it crucial to prevent them from associating humans with a source of food to avoid future conflicts.
The cub is expected to remain at the center for up to a year, undergoing further development and potential pairing with another orphaned cub to aid in its socialization and minimize human imprinting. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will determine the release site based on various factors such as habitat suitability, population dynamics, and potential conflicts with humans.
Welch anticipates the cub will not be released back into the wild until the following spring or early summer when it reaches a weight of around 130 to 150lbs. Once released, the cub will be fitted with a GPS collar for monitoring its movements and behavior for up to a year post-release.
This particular case of rehabilitating a young bear cub underscores the dedication, expertise, and funding required for such efforts. The San Diego Humane Society relies on donations to sustain its wildlife rehabilitation programs, with the Ramona Wildlife Center being the sole facility in San Diego County permitted to care for native apex predators like black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats.
Welch described the cub’s case as both unusual and a significant commitment, highlighting the honor and responsibility that come with caring for such a young animal without its mother. The successful rehabilitation and release of the cub back into its natural habitat will mark a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts to protect and conserve California’s wildlife.
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