Black Bear cub #20-0084

Admission Date: 
February 6, 2020
Release Date: 
February 12, 2020
Location of Rescue: 
Washington County, Virginia
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Separated from mother
Outcome: 
Successfully Fostered!
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive
Released

On February 6, an infant male Black Bear cub was admitted to the Wildlife Center. The cub was found the evening before in Washington County when a family dog brought home the tiny cub.  The homeowners were unsure where the cub came from, so they called the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). A biologist transported the cub to the Center.

Dr. Claire, the Center’s veterinary intern, examined the cub when he arrived and found that the cub was bright and alert, and vocalizing readily. The cub weighed just 540 g – smaller than cub #20-0064 at admission – and was mildly dehydrated, though otherwise was healthy.

The cub was settled into an incubator, and the rehabilitation staff added him to their ‘round-the-clock bottle feeding schedule. A fecal sample was taken; as long as the cub is free from internal parasites, he’ll be introduced to female cub #20-0064 on the morning of February 7.

DGIF reported that they located two active den sites, both with sows and cubs. The dens are difficult to access; the biologists will continue to assess the situation and will plan to attempt fostering during the week of February 10. It's likely that the two cubs will be fostered separately, due to the size and age difference; the biologist will also need to assess the number and age of cubs present at the den sites and will make final decisions in the field.

Your donation will help Center staff provide specialized care to this tiny bear cub ... and to the other 3,000 wild patients the Center will admit this year. 

Updates

February 12, 2020

A quick report from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries: all went well with today’s foster! The biologists darted and sedated this particular sow so that they could replace her radio collar and also place Black Bear cub #20-0084 with her. The biologist reported that the sow had three biological cubs … and now, one extra! We’ll receive more details (and photos) tomorrow.

February 10, 2020

The two Black Bear cubs did well at the Center over the weekend; they were introduced to one another on Friday, and spent the weekend in the same incubator, on the same schedule of bottle-feeding.

 

On the morning of February 10, a DGIF biologist came to the Center to pick up the female cub, #20-0064, for a fostering attempt. Last week, DGIF reported that they located two active den sites, both with sows and cubs. Black Bear cub #20-0084, the male cub, will be picked up on Wednesday, February 12, and will hopefully be fostered at the second den site.

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