This past December, animal experts at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) in North Auburn, California, met a new rescue resident with a tragic story. The young black bear cub had been discovered living alone in El Dorado County, struggling to survive. He suffered from dehydration, anemia and a skin infection, among other issues.
Rescuers conducted a thorough exam and came up with a treatment plan. They knew the bear’s journey to health wasn’t guaranteed, but they also knew they’d do everything in their power to help him heal.
After a few weeks of treatment, the cub’s curious face regained some of its former fuzz.
More time went by, and rescuers became increasingly hopeful about the cub’s recovery. Meanwhile, the cub began revealing his wild, playful side. He enjoyed using a variety of enrichment tools in his enclosure, including a kiddie pool and firehose hammock. Rescuers avoided contact with him as much as possible, ensuring the cub’s best chance at returning to the wild.
“He was in such poor condition when he arrived that, in many ways, he didn’t even resemble a bear,” Engberg said. “The fact that he’s regrown so much of his fur and is remaining wild and not interested in humans is something that continues to make everyone at GCWR proud every day.”