Black Bear cubs of 2022 update

The first two Black Bear cubs of 2022 are doing well -- both are eating and gaining weight! With consistently warmer temperatures, both bears were moved to the Center's Large Mammal enclosure on May 11. They were transported in the Center's brand-new Polaris!

Black Bear cub #22-0462, the first cub admitted this season, was placed directly in the left side of the 16' square enclosure, so that he can run, play, and climb. Black Bear cub #22-0685, the much smaller second cub, was placed in the connecting chute [measuring 4' x 8'] between the two sides of the enclosure. Due to the cub's small size, the rehabilitation staff do not yet want to allow him full access to the left side of LMI, though he can see, smell, and interact with the other cub through the connecting door. As of May 16, cub #0462 weighed 5.95 kg; cub #0685 weighed 2.8 kg. 

On May 16, a third cub (#22-1087) was admitted to the Wildlife Center; this new female cub is a good size match for the small male cub. Both will be housed in the chute of the LMI until they gain more weight. Both are currently being fed three times a day.  Until the cubs are large enough to receive identifying colored ear tags, the staff shaved a small patch of fur on each cub to identify them at a glance. Cub #0685, the male, has a patch of fur shaved on his left shoulder.  New cub #1087, the female, has a shaved stripe on her back. 

Tune in to Cub Cam to watch these growing bears! At this point, cub #22-0462 will be the main cub on cam until the two smaller bears can join him full-time. Cam viewers may be able to catch a glimpse of #0685 during the day; since he is nearly large enough to be in the main Large Mammal enclosure, the rehabilitation staff are letting him out into the space during the day, but enclosing him in the more protected chute (with cub #1087) at night.  The larger cub is fed a mush bowl once a day [in the morning] and is also currently eating a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and proteins; the two smaller cubs are bottle-fed three times a day.