Update On Bear Cub 'Snatched from Tree' for Selfie Has People in Their Feelings
The little bear cub that was snatched from a tree at an apartment complex in Asheville, North Carolina a few weeks ago is now in recovery at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.
If you saw the original video, you know how terrifying this must have been for the little cub. It's so wonderful that she is being cared for.
ABC 11 reports that the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge said the cub has adjusted to the center well. She is eating and playing with another orphaned cub. They hope to be able to release her back into the wild this fall. The other little cub wasn't located, but it is believed she found her mama.
Related: Video of Group 'Ripping' Terrified Bear Cubs From Trees to Take Photos Has People Sickened
CBS shared the disappointing news about what happened to the people who snatched the babies to begin with, "Wildlife Resources Commission officers investigated the incident with the cubs. The individuals involved were all cautioned about the importance of leaving bear cubs alone.
"It is unlawful in NC to capture and keep black bears. However, the bear cubs were immediately released, and officers have determined there will be no charges filed," a spokesperson for the commission told CBS News on Wednesday. "
Related: Tourist Is Mauled by Brown Bear After Rolling Down Window to Take a Selfie With It
What I find disturbing about no charges being filed is that the next idiots who do something like this won't be worried because all they will get for risking the life of a poor wild animal is a stern talking to.
In the original story one of the cubs was so frightened she ran into the center of the complex and was found hiding in a pond to get away from those people. I will never understand people who would do something this inhumane just to take a selfie.
Why You Should Never Touch a Bear Cub
Due to this horrific incident, the NCWRC wildlife biologists are once again reminding the public that they should never approach a bear cub. Game Mammals and Surveys Supervisor Colleen Olfenbuttel explains, "This time of year, mother bears are emerging from their den with their cubs that are experiencing the outside world for the first time and are very dependent on their mother to feed and protect them. People who try to capture or handle a cub are not only risking the cub’s safety, but their own if the mother bear is nearby, as she may try to defend her cubs.Even if you don’t see the mother bear, she could be nearby, and the cubs are waiting for her to return. By trying to capture a bear cub, you may cause it to become orphaned, injured or both, as we saw occur in this incident."
The public should contact NCWRC if they suspect they’ve encountered an orphaned bear cub. Do not approach the cub, do not handle the cub, attempt to remove it, feed it, or snatch it out of a tree to take a selfie with it.
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