CPW: ‘Abandoned bear cub’ turns out to be starved yearling

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In a sad update about the bear that was earlier this week found near Manitou Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says that the cub turned out to be a yearling that was significantly underweight, and the bear wasn't able to survive the night.

CPW shared the story about the bear that was found abandoned near Ute Pass after a storm this weekend. The bear, which was initially thought to be a cub, was "near death from hypothermia" and taken to the Frisco Creek Wildlife Center in Del Norte to be treated.

When the bear got to Del Norte, CPW staff said the 11-pound bear wasn't a cub, but actually a yearling. CPW noted that a yearling bear should weigh around 30-40 pounds.

Frisco Creek manager Michael Sirochman said it was "the worst case of starvation in a bear" he had ever seen, and staffers went to work trying to warm up the bear and rehydrate it. CPW reported Tuesday that the bear didn't survive the night.

"I take this real personal," Sirochman said. "I feel like I failed despite all our best efforts."

Sirochman guessed that the bear was orphaned last summer but then burned up all its fat and muscle in hibernation.

If you see a bear cub that appears to be abandoned, you're urged to not approach it and instead call Colorado Parks and Wildlife.