Rescued Black Bear Cubs Get Second Chance At Ramona Wildlife Center

RAMONA, CA — Two California black bear cubs are getting a second chance at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The 5-month-old cubs were rescued in the San Bernardino National Forest after their mother was found dead. The first cub was found near their dead mother on July 4 and the second smaller cub was found on July 7.

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

Staff said it was clear the brothers were happy to be reunited at the Ramona Wildlife Center.

"They were vocalizing and immediately re-bonded with each other," said Andy Blue, campus director of 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 cubs are housed in an indoor and outdoor medical facility, where Project Wildlife's animal caregivers set up an environment with California live oak, pine, clover, mulberry branches, fruit tree branches, mulch, humming bird sage, sumac, chamomile flowers and herbs.

The next steps include an anesthetized exam of each bear. They will eventually be moved to a larger outdoor enclosure, allowing them to exhibit more natural behaviors, according to the San Diego Humane Society. Project Wildlife's team hopes to return the bears to the wild early next year.

The Project Wildlife program is the primary resource for wild animal rehabilitation and conservation education in San Diego County. Each year, the San Diego Humane Society gives nearly 13,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance.