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Rescue workers release orphaned bear cubs back into the wild
The cubs were found malnourished and looking for food in a Washington town. Rescue workers at PAWS Wildlife Center helped get them back home.
Author: Eric Wilkinson
Published: 5:37 PM PDT May 7, 2024
Updated: 5:37 PM PDT May 7, 2024
SKYKOMISH, Wash. — Two bear cubs were released back into the wild Tuesday after they were found wandering the town ofConcretein September 2023.
At the time they were found, the cubs were underweight and had been orphaned by their mom.
Wildlife officials said they likely would have died if humans hadn't stepped in to save them.
State wildlife workers said they wanted the rescue experience to be as unpleasant as possible for the two black bears so that the bears would learn to fear people and stay far away.
Dogs specifically trained to hunt the bears did the trick.
"The dogs will get real barky, and scare the bears a bit. That's all part of it. They don't hurt them. It makes their last contact with people a negative one," said Washington Fish and Wildlife Officer Rich Beausoleil.
For the past 8 months, veterinarians at Lynnwood's PAWS Wildlife Center cared for the bears. From there, the two were tranquilized and placed in steel containers for their trip back home.
"If we can help them and we know what we're doing works, then why not? Let's intervene and let them live a long life," said Beausoleil.
After a full rehabilitation, the bears were released into the forest; One sprinted straight into the woods. The other quickly found sanctuary in a nearby tree — his healthy fear of people is sinking in.
Continued at site…
https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/rescue-workers-release-orphaned-bear-cubs-into-woods-washington/281-e8a3534e-692f-4718-b075-428cf8c53ff2