This past December, animal experts at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) in North Auburn, California, met a new rescue resident with a tragic story.
The young black bear cub had been discovered living alone in El Dorado County, struggling to survive. He suffered from dehydration, anemia and a skin infection, among other issues. He cowered in his crate, staring down at his big paws.
“It was heartbreaking to see a bear cub in such terrible condition,” GCWR marketing and outreach manager Chelsea Engberg told The Dodo.
Rescuers conducted a thorough exam and came up with a treatment plan. They knew the bear’s journey to health wasn’t guaranteed, but they also knew they’d do everything in their power to help him heal.
After a few weeks of treatment, the cub’s curious face regained some of its former fuzz.
“While it might not seem like a big change, the fact that we are starting to see fur fuzz grow on his face is an exciting next step in his healing journey,” GCWR wrote in a Facebook post.
More time went by, and rescuers became increasingly hopeful about the cub’s recovery. Meanwhile, the cub began revealing his wild, playful side.
He enjoyed using a variety of enrichment tools in his enclosure, including a kiddie pool and firehose hammock. Rescuers avoided contact with him as much as possible, ensuring the cub’s best chance at returning to the wild. By February, the cub looked like a totally different bear.
“We are always amazed by the wild animals in our care, and this bear cub is one of the most amazing recoveries we have seen,” Engberg said.
Experts need a bit more time to determine the cub’s future. Eventually, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will decide whether he’ll be released into the wild or whether he’ll live in a protected sanctuary. Either way, it’s clear that everyone has his best interests at heart.
For now, the cub remains at the rescue, where GCWR staff members are endlessly gratified by his resiliency.
“He was in such poor condition when he arrived that, in many ways, he didn’t even resemble a bear,” Engberg said. “The fact that he’s regrown so much of his fur and is remaining wild and not interested in humans is something that continues to make everyone at GCWR proud every day.”