Bear cub, injured in Cameron Peak Fire, released back into wild
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A black bear cub, rescued from the Cameron Peak Fire, is back in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
The cub was found on someone's porch northwest of Masonville in December of 2020. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officers say the cub was only 16 pounds and it was severely dehydrated, starving, and its ears were infected from frostbite and its feet suffered from burns.
According to CPW, they couldn't determine how long the cub may have been orphaned, however, evidence suggests it had been quite some time.
The bear was weak and struggling to stay warm, so CPW used heating pads, monitored its temperature, breathing, and heart rate closely, and gave the cub oxygen while under sedation.
CPW cleaned and bandaged the cub's feet, treated the frostbitten ears, and gave fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics.
This past winter, wildlife officials focused on helping the male cub get better. They even kept the bear awake instead of letting it hibernate, allowing it to eat and gain back weight for springtime.
“This bear's drive to survive did most of the work and we just gave it a little boost,” said Kristin Cannon, Deputy Regional Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Northeast region. “This bear went through an awful lot in its first year of life, let's hope humans can now help keep it wild by not rewarding it with our food sources and lowering its chances of survival.”
The cub managed to bulk up to 93 pounds. Wildlife officers released the cub back into the wild on May 5.
For the bears full recovery journey, follow the links below:
After a rough beginning to life, this bear injured during the #CameronPeakFire is back roaming the Colorado Rocky Mountains with a new lease on life.
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) May 14, 2021
Watch its full recovery journey: https://t.co/REAGXMjM3Y
Read its story: https://t.co/NKVYNsDLPG pic.twitter.com/SaVA1Xc43W
A BLACK BEAR CUB... RESCUED AFTER THE CAMERON PEAK FIRE... IS NOW BACK IN THE WILD.
TAKE VO
NAME:NA-05SU
{***VO***}
CG1 (SAG 2020 L3.crd) | BLACK BEAR RELEASED | AFTER SUFFERING INJURIES IN FIRE | OFF
THE BEAR WAS FOUND ON SOMEONE'S PORCH BACK IN DECEMBER.
WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY THE 16 POUND CUB WAS SEVERELY DEHYDRATED, STARVING... WITH ITS EARS INFECTED FROM FROSTBITE, AND BURNS ON ITS FEET.
THIS WINTER... WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SPENT THE WINTER HELPING HER GET BETTER.
THEY EVEN KEPT THE BEAR AWAKE INSTEAD OF LETTING IT HIBERNATE, SO IT COULD EAT AND GAIN BACK ITS WEIGHT BY SPRINGTIME.
THE BEAR BULKED UP TO 93 POUNDS... AND WAS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD ON MAY 5TH.
