Orphaned Black Bear Brothers Released Into Wild In SoCal

RAMONA, CA — Two California black bear brothers are back in the wild after being raised at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife began tracking the cubs in July 2023 once they found the bears' dead mother.

At only 5 months old, the cubs would have been too young to survive on their own, according to San Diego Humane Society. Black bear cubs typically need to stay with their mother for up to 17 months.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife rescued the first cub on July 4, 2023, and the second, smaller cub, on July 7, 2023. The brothers were reunited at Ramona Wildlife Center, where they spent 10 months growing up.

The bears were kept in an outdoor enclosure mimicking their natural environment, according to the organization. They were fed fruits, vegetables, nuts, peanut butter and bear chow daily. Once the bears showed they could successfully forage for food and survive on their own, they were determined to be ready for release.

"It's a delicate skill to raise wild bears in captivity," said Andy Blue, campus director of San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. "Bears eat more than 10 pounds of food per day, so to ensure they are fed without our staff ever being seen, and that they have plenty of enrichment to exhibit their natural behaviors without leaving human scents behind, takes meticulous planning."

The bears were microchipped, fitted with GPS collars and given a clean bill of health from the wildlife veterinary team. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released the bears on May 15 in the San Bernardino National Forest near where they were first found.