Black Bear cub #13-0889

Species Name (EN): 
Species Name (LA): 
Admission Date: 
May 14, 2013
Release Date: 
January 27, 2014
Location of Rescue: 
Botetourt County, VA
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Fractured femur
Prognosis: 
Outcome: 
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive
Released

On May 13, a homeowner saw a young bear cub near his home in Botetourt County – with no sign of the Black Bear sow. The cub was headed toward the highway – so the homeowner rescued the bear and called the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The cub was transported to the Center on the morning of May 14.

Dr. Rich Sim, the Center’s veterinary fellow, examined the cub upon admission. The cub was extremely thin and dehydrated – and radiographs revealed a fracture of the bear cub’s right femur. Dr. Rich suspects that the injury, which is approximately two weeks old, may have prevented the young cub from keeping up with her mother. The fracture is already healing, so no surgery or treatment will be needed; at this point, the bear needs to gain weight. The rehabilitation staff will be feeding the female cub three times a day. The cub currently weighs 2.03 kg.

This Black Bear cub, patient #13-0889, brings the current tally of Black Bear cubs to 12. Once a fecal examination has confirmed that the bear does not have any internal parasites, the cub will be introduced to Bear cubs #13-0874 - #13-0876.

At the Wildlife Center, we treat to release. Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with this young Black Bear … and with the many other Black Bears residing at the Center this summer! 

Updates

January 27, 2014

On the morning of January 27, two biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries arrived to pick up four bears for release. Dr. Rich, the Center’s veterinary fellow, quickly darted the three bears in transition area #2 – three female bears. Two of the bears were unable to be identified by microchip (but did include Saturday’s escapee bear); the other female was #13-0889.

Dr. Rich also successfully darted a female bear in transition area #1. After the bear was anesthetized, Dr. Rich, Dr. Kristin, and veterinary student Ernesto entered the transition area behind a large wooden “bear blocker” – so they could safely grab the sleeping bear while in the presence of four very awake bears. Dr. Rich was able to quickly grab the anesthetized bear, and tucked her behind the bear blocker as the team shuffled out the door. No microchip information was available for this fourth bear, though, based on appearance and attitude, the staff believe this to be #13-1277.

All four bears were loaded and “reversed” [given an injection of medication to reverse the anesthetic drug]. The four females will be released in a remote area of western Virginia later today.

Black Bear Release #2:  January 27, 2014


Friday’s bear release went well – the bears were eager to leave the bear trap on the back of the DGIF truck. All bears ran off into their new habitat, which was full of many log piles; these are great potential den sites if the bears choose to stay in the immediate area. At this point, we do not have photos of the release.

The next bear release will be on Thursday, January 30. Four bears from transition area #1 will be released on that date.

Certified wildlife rehabilitator Amber opened up the door connecting the two yards after today’s release – two of the bears in yard #1 quickly moved to yard #2 to inspect this new environment. Amber shut the connecting door – the three bears in yard #2 will tentatively be released on Friday, January 31.

At this point, the staff plan on holding back #13-2606 to potentially be a future companion for injured bear #14-0018.



Comparison Photos:

May 20, 2013

On the morning of May 18, Black Bear cub #13-0889 appeared to be much brighter. The rehab staff bottle-fed the cub and reported that she was eating much better than she was the previous day. The vet staff moved her out of the Center’s critical care chamber and into a regular enclosure in the Center’s holding room. The cub remains bright and alert.

May 17, 2013

The rehabilitation staff noted that Black Bear #13-0889 was not as bright and alert on Thurday, May 16 – though the bear was still eating. On the morning of May 17, the bear-feeders noted that the thin cub was very weak and not able to stand well. Dr. Rich Sim, the Center’s veterinary fellow, drew blood from the cub to run a basic complete blood count. While the bear is slightly anemic, bloodwork results did not offer an explanation as to the bear’s weakened state. The bear was placed in the Center’s critical care chamber. The staff will continue to monitor the young cub.

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