Abandoned bear cub gets new home
WITHOUT ‘BEAR’ NECESSITIES— A Columbia Valley orphan bear cub will soon be on his way to Smithers, B.C., where the tiny carnivore will learn how to survive in the wild. Photo by Kristian Rasmussen
By Kristian Rasmussen
Pioneer Staff
A lost and lonely wanderer will soon find himself a new home.
Conservation officers captured a small, abandoned black bear cub on May 29th, after several people reported it wandering alone near Little Antler Ranch on Westside Road.
We knew that it was orphaned and it would not survive on its own,” said Greg Kruger, valley conservation officer.
The officer monitored the whereabouts of the travelling tot and used a ‘Havahart’ trap to capture the pint-sized predator four kilometres south of Invermere.
Once captured, the 3.9 kilogram, 10-week-old cub was taken to the Invermere Veterinary Hospital to be checked over, and was given a clean bill of health.
Veterinarians Mark Zehnder and Bruce Thiessen found the bear to be in good health, but a little malnourished.
“He was a cute little guy,” Mr. Thiessen said. “He will be glad to get a good food source soon.”
The orphan cub was deemed a good candidate for rehabilitation, and will be flown to the Northern Lights Wildlife Society facility in Smithers May 30th.
“He is a suitable candidate for rehabilitation because he is still not people-friendly,” the conservation officer said.
When the bear has learned how to fend for himself he will be released back into the wild somewhere in the Columbia Valley, away from human contact.
“Hopefully he can live out life as a natural bear would,” Mr. Kruger added.
The Northern Lights Wildlife Facility was an obvious choice for the young bear because the facility stresses minimal human contact with animals during rehabilitation.
“They keep bears wild at the facility and are endorsed by the provincial government,” Mr. Kruger said. “ He will stay there for a year and should be big enough to survive on his own afterwards.”
