Orphaned CA Black Bear Cubs Return To Wild

RAMONA, CA — Two orphaned California black bear cubs are back in the wild after being cared for and rehabilitated at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released a 15-month-old female cub and a 15-month-old male cub Wednesday in Central California's Inyo and Tulare counties.

The cub that was released in Inyo County arrived at Ramona Wildlife Center on Dec. 15, 2022 from Bishop.

"He had been orphaned and reported to be showing habituation to people, which is dangerous for both the bear and the public," a news release from the Humane Society said. "It was believed the mother had been struck by a car."

The cub that was released in Tulare County arrived three days later on Dec. 18, 2022.

"She was believed to have been orphaned by the heavy rainstorms, which can flood bear dens," the Humane Society said. "She was rescued by CDFW biologists near Bakersfield after she was found abandoned and thin."

The two cubs were housed together in an outdoor enclosure at Ramona Wildlife Center, where they had access to trees and shrubs, as well as opportunities to climb, run, play and forage for food.

Project Wildlife's animal care team intentionally minimized interaction with the bears, so the cubs would not get comfortable around humans, according to the Humane Society.

"Their stay with us has to mimic life in the wild, to set them up for success," said Andy Blue, campus director of Ramona Wildlife Center. "It's incredibly important that no one gets any unnecessary access to the bears, because then they might think it is safe to approach humans after they've been released."

Each year, the Humane Society gives nearly 13,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance, according to the organization. The Ramona Campus, which has operated since 2020, specializes in caring for native apex predators and birds of prey, including bears, bobcats, coyotes, eagles, hawks, mountain lions and owls.