Cinder, Bear Cub Burned In Wildfire, Found Dead

WINTHROP, WA - A Washington bear cub whose story of survival swept the nation in 2014 has died. Cinder the bear was rescued after she was found crawling on her knees and elbows, her face and paws badly burned.

Cinder's skeleton was found in September near Leavenworth, according to the Methow Valley News. She had been shot, according to state fish and wildlife officers.

After her rescue, Cinder was taken to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care center in California for rehabilitation. After she got better, Cinder was released back into the wild in 2015.

State wildlife officials outfitted Cinder with a radio tracking collar. When they checked on her in February 2017, she was doing well. Wildlife officials believe she was shot by a hunter.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen from here. Anything can happen out here in the wild. It’s a tough place to make a living. But we’ve set her up for success in this spot,"state Department of Fish and Wildlife bear and cougar specialist Rich Beausoleil told KLCC in 2015 after Cinder was released.

The Carlton Complex fire was the largest in state history, burning over 255,000 acres near Okanagon County in July 2014.

Image via YouTube