Orphaned & Injured

The Bear With Us Rehabilitation and Release Program by Mike McIntosh

Humans and human activity often cause pain and suffering to wild bears. This does not mean there is not some of the same in a bears natural world. However, people inflict the most pain, suffering and mortality. Keep in mind very few wild bears actually die of old age. The vast majority are injured or die due to human activities, hunting being a major cause of bear mortality.

Time and effort to rehabilitate bears young and old that have been orphaned or caused injury at the hands of people has great importance. Helping the individual animal is rewarding. More important is the message to people in general. We as humans can learn to coexist with less damage to our environment and the wildlife that inhabits the environment with us. Education, awareness and understanding bear behavior can reduce fear of the animal and increase appreciation and awe. Wildlife rehabilitation and education is important as the practice helps increase public awareness and hopefully will encourage people to alter habits and thought processes, therefore reducing the need for rehabilitation.

As a rehabilitator of bears a success would be a rehabilitated orphaned cub that is returned to the wild at the age of 18 months and survives in the wild to the age of reproducing on its own (4 to 7 years).

Facts to Consider When Rehabilitating Black Bear Cubs – a short list by Mike McIntosh
-Very intelligent mammal
-Extremely acute sense of smell. Scent oriented mammal.
-Good eyesight, similar to humans, bears see colour
-Cubs stay with mother for minimum 1.5 years
-Cubs learn by following mother, mimicking her actions and activities ie: food sourcing
-Cubs don’t imprint like some birds, but can quickly learn to trust their caregiver.
-Food and security is important to bear cubs. They get both from mother.
-Caregiver must be careful to wean young cubs from looking to caregiver for protection.
-Cubs are social, multiple cubs together are better than a lone cub in an enclosure
-General human activity must be minimal
-Bear cubs seeing many different people (public) is the bears death sentence later
-Bear cubs returning to the wild cannot get used to people in general or human activity
-Bears have excellent memories, like human sourced food; will not forget if fed this.
-Cubs need to be offered wild foods indigenous to area of release.
-Feeding habits are learned – worth repeating, important to remember.
-Cubs need to learn what is available in wild, not learn what is available from people and their dwellings
-Release to wild is at about 18 months and when wild food supply is abundant.
-Bear cubs age at admission does not change release time unless affected by injury
-Bear cubs must fear people when released for the bears long term survival.
-Bears have different personalities. Some are less fearful or nervous than others. Be aware of behavioral differences when working with bears.

Facts to Consider when Working with Adult and Sub-adult Black Bears
-Very intelligent mammal
-Scent oriented, extremely acute sense of smell
-Good eyesight similar to people. Bears see color
-Don’t confuse bear’s bluff and scare tactics with aggression.
-Even the largest male prefers not to have physical contact with people
-Allow bears being freed an escape route not close to people
-Have empathy for bear when using dart guns. There are better means for close range.
-If treating injured bear, insure bear is in secure enclosure or trap cage
-If bear is sedated beware of signs of arousal. Know your sedative!
-Injured bears should be treated and released as soon as possible.
-Ear tagging bears is a must if animal has been sedated.
-Consider the bear regarding pain, stress, fear. Not your fear, the bears!
-Injured adult bears are possible to work with. Caution, Precaution and an understanding of bear behavior is crucial. Be careful. Bears may hurt people trying to escape or self defense.
-Remember, the bear has no way of knowing you are not trying to kill or hurt it. Move slowly, quietly and speak in low easy tones. Shouting and loud laughter is not appropriate.
-Bears are extremely powerful and can be dangerous. Be cautious and considerate.
-I have worked with approximately two hundred adult wild black bears whether treating injuries or live trapping to resolve human/bear conflicts. I carry a camera nothing else when releasing the bears back to the wild. Not one bear has attempted to injure me. Bears just wish to get away from me. I have taken many pictures of bears fast fleeing butts. … Mike McIntosh