Orphaned Bear Cub Raised by Humans In Bear Costumes

Recently the San Diego Humane Society took in the youngest black bear cub the group had ever rescued, an approximately 2-month old cub that had arrived in April – weak, underweight, and alone. 

The cub was found in Los Padres National Forest by campers who alerted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who brought the little guy to the Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.

“He was extremely fragile when he arrived,” says Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at the Center. “After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he’s active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.”

The rehabbers’ job was tricky: administer tender care round the clock, while at the same time remaining as standoffish as possible. Getting too comfortable with humans would jeopardize its survival chances back outdoors.

So they  wore bear masks, oversized fur coats, and leather gloves whenever they interacted with the cub. They also rubbed down their costumes with black-bear-scented hay they picked up from a local sanctuary. The cub needs four feeding sessions every day, along with “enrichment sessions” that mimic maternal behaviors to help prepare the cub for life on the outside.

 “This is a very unusual case,” says Welch.“We don’t often see bears this young without their mother. It’s an honor to care for him, but it’s also a significant commitment. We rely entirely on donations to make this kind of specialized care possible.”

If the CDFW happens to rescue another cub in the coming months, it will likely try to pair them up, a typical strategy to keep orphaned cubs wild and reduce the risk of imprinting on humans.

San Diego’s Project Wildlife is one of the largest wildlife rehab organizations in the country. Support their work here. 

Photo Credit: San Diego Humane Society