San Diego Humane Society cares for youngest Black bear cub in its history

San Diego Humane Society s Project Wildlife crew is as of now caring for the youngest black bear cub the organization has ever taken in Photo courtesy of San Diego Humane Society San Diego Humane Society s Project Wildlife organization is right now caring for the youngest black bear cub the organization has ever taken in an estimated -month-old unveiled weak underweight and alone After a month of round-the-clock care at the Ramona Wildlife Center he s now stable playful and thriving The cub was discovered by campers on April in Los Padres National Forest Biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tried reuniting him with his mother by leaving him overnight in the area but she never returned With no further signs of her the cub was brought to the Ramona Wildlife Center on April He was extremely fragile when he arrived revealed Autumn Welch wildlife operations manager After going several days without nutrition it was touch-and-go at first But now he s evolving eating well and gaining weight steadily Due to his age and condition he ll likely remain in care for up to a year The long-term goal is to return him to the wild and if another cub is rescued in California CDFW may pair them a key strategy to prevent imprinting and encourage wild behaviors CDFW notes that only three other cubs this young have entered rehabilitation in California over the past five years Raising one this small demands key time expertise and materials In his early weeks he needed overnight feedings to stabilize and in the modern day he receives four enrichment and feeding sessions daily These sessions help simulate maternal behaviors and prepare him for life in the wild This is a very distinctive episode Welch commented We don t often see bears this young without their mother It s an honor to care for him but it s also a important commitment We rely entirely on donations to make this kind of specialized care practicable San Diego Humane Society receives no state funding for this work The Ramona Wildlife Center remains the only facility in San Diego County authorized to rehabilitate native apex predators such as black bears mountain lions and bobcats To aid the cub s care and other wildlife efforts visit sdhumane org wildlife