Orphaned Black Bear Cub Siblings Released Back Into Wild in Touching Video
On May 15, two black bear cubs were released after being cared for by the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center for 10 months back into the San Bernardino National Forest.
The wildlife center took the cubs in after their mother was found dead in the same forest.
The San Diego Humane Society explained on Facebook, in part, "Once they arrived at our Ramona Wildlife Center, the pair were housed together in an outdoor enclosure mimicking their natural habitat with native plants and substrate where they could develop their muscles, exercise and sharpen their natural instincts. Our team strategically watched over them with minimal contact to ensure they would not become habituated to humans. Once the bears were old enough and showed they could successfully survive on their own, they were microchipped and fitted with GPS collars for release!"
Related: Mama Bear and Cubs Go for a Dip in Tennessee Pool in Precious Video
People Magazine reports, "Their living quarters included native plants and substrates such as California live oak, pine, clover, mulberry branches, fruit tree branches, mulch, hummingbird sage, sumac, chamomile flowers and herbs.
They were also given food such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, peanut butter and bear chow daily during their stay."
It's so wonderful that these little cubs will now be able to grow up in their natural habitat and grow up to be the big bears they are meant to be.
It's wonderful when rescue groups are able to save animals like this, but people who aren't wildlife rehabbers should never approach or touch a bear cub.
Why You Should Never Touch a Bear Cub
IMAGO / Panthermedia
After some bear cubs were ripped from a tree because people wanted to take selfies with them, 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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