How orphaned bear cubs are rehabilitated to be released back into the wild – WHSV

WAYNESBORO, Va. (WHSV) – Every spring, American black bears stir from their deep sleep to forage for food. In the process, it’s not uncommon for bar cubs to be left behind by the mother. Many times, the mother will return if the cub is left undisturbed.
But what happens if the mother doesn’t return or the cub seems sick? The Department of Wildlife Resources says to call them before making any moves. They will assess the situation and, in many cases, transport the cub to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro.
That’s where Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex Olvera and her team come in.
“As soon as the cub gets through our front door, our rehabilitation staff and veterinary team take over, the cub is immediately taken into a quiet exam room to let it kind of relax, because it’s obviously been through a traumatic event”, Olvera said.
Once the veterinarians complete their exams, Olvera begins the rehabilitation process. She is one of only four individuals who can interact with the cubs from that point on.
This limited human contact with the cubs is for a crucial reason.
“We have very strict protocols about who gets to assess the bear physically if the bear is awake, because bears are very prone to habituation in captivity”, Olvera said.
Habituation is when an animal loses its fear of humans, and for the cubs, that’s the last thing they need in this process.
In plain words, that will be a death sentence to the cub.
She continued saying, “There are other options, like placement; however, for American black bears, placement is very difficult.”
American black bears are very common, and combined with their long life spans, finding zoos with the space can be tough.
Even with that alternative looming over Olvera and her team, she’s confident in their work, making placement a rare option.
“So every decision we make in terms of how we manage their care is for them to become independent. So the way we treat them, the way we present their food, the way we manage pretty much any of their care is for them to become independent so they can be released back into the wild,” Olvera said.
The team is small and the work is hard, but she loves every second of it.
“It sounds super cool to say only four people can see the bears. But then, if you think about it, those are the only four people that get to do all their maintenance, their husbandry, or their care, alongside our other patients. So, it’s very taxing for the staff, but it’s very rewarding.
We all love what we do, and I think being part of the releases and seeing that process keeps us going here.”
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