Siblings too young to survive on their own were rescued after mama bear was found dead.
RAMONA, CA — Two young California black bear cubs are getting a second chance at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center after they were found near their deceased mother in the San Bernardino National Forest. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) began tracking the cubs, once they located the deceased mother. At only five months old, the bear cub brothers would have been too young to survive on their own. Black bear cubs typically need to stay with their mother, or sow, for up to 17 months.
The first cub was rescued by CDFW on July 4, 2023, and the second, smaller cub, on July 7, 2023. Once reunited at the Ramona Wildlife Center it was clear the brothers were happy to be together. “They were vocalizing and immediately re-bonded with each other,” said Andy Blue, campus director of San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. “Our goal now is to raise them with limited to no human interaction and get them ready to return to the wild.”
The two cubs are currently housed in an indoor/outdoor medical facility, where Project Wildlife’s animal caregivers have set up an environment with native plants and substrate, such as California live oak, pine, clover, mulberry branches, fruit tree branches, mulch, humming bird sage, sumac, chamomile flowers and herbs. Next steps will include an anesthetized exam of each bear and, once ready, a move to a larger outdoor enclosure, allowing them to exhibit more natural behaviors. Project Wildlife’s team hopes to return the bears to the wild early next year.
San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program is the primary resource for wild animal rehabilitation and conservation education in San Diego County. Each year, SDHS gives nearly 13,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance. At the Ramona Campus, SDHS specializes in caring for native apex predators and birds of prey, including hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, bears, bobcats and, under special pilot authorization, mountain lions.
About San Diego Humane Society
San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. We offer programs that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, San Diego Humane Society has campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego. For more information, please visit sdhumane.org<http://sdhumane.org>. Follow the SDHS Media Relations department on Twitter @sdhumane<https://twitter.com/sdhumane>.
