A tiny black bear cub, just two months old, was found crying alone in California’s Los Padres
National Forest, with no sign of his mother. Wildlife officials tried to reunite him with her but
failed, so they took him to the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. When
he arrived, the cub was very weak and needed urgent care. Workers dressed in bear
costumes to feed and care for him, mimicking his mother’s behavior to keep him from
bonding with humans.
This will help him return to the wild later, and in the meantime it’s entertaining for everyone
that works with the team. After five weeks, the cub gained nearly 10 pounds, learned to
climb, and is now thriving. The team gives him four feeding and play sessions daily, using
bear-scented hay to keep things natural. This is the youngest bear cub the center has ever
cared for.