Black Bear cubs of 2019 update

The trio of Black Bear cubs have been entertaining a variety of Critter Cam viewers. They appear to enjoy sleeping in their hammock but often wake up for wild play sessions throughout the day. Orange Tag has been playing and sleeping with his new sisters, though the two larger females are typically first to arrive at the mush bowls once they are delivered. The staff have been carefully monitoring the cubs’ food intake.

Orange Tag weighed in at 3.25 kg on Thursday, June 13 – the same weight he was on Monday, June 10 when he first moved in with the two other cubs. He’s maintaining his weight, though the rehabilitation staff would like to see the cub's weight increase, even with the dramatic increase in his activity level.

After two more days of observation, the rehabilitation staff decided to move Orange Tag to the connecting chute of the Large Mammal enclosure, so that he could fully eat his twice-daily mush bowls. On June 16, the rehabilitation team noted that Orange Tag wasn’t eating much, so Dr. Karra performed an examination, including blood work. The cub was given fluids and returned to a zinger crate in the right side of the Large Mammal enclosure.

Some blood work values were mildly elevated, likely due to the bear’s young age and poor appetite. The staff will monitor the cub carefully in the next few days.