CANDLER — Appalachian Wildlife Refuge has spent the past few weeks caring for and stabilizing one of the black bear cubs after a video went viral in April showing people pulling the animal out of a tree to take a photo. I've been working on it. Incident.
“This incident has understandably caused feelings of frustration, sadness and anger in many viewers. The act of witnessing these shocking images has helped people understand the extraordinary circumstances that wildlife face every day. We hope this will inspire people to think about real-world challenges,” said Savannah, Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Executive Director. Transom said. “The silver lining is that this baby was rescued by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). Despite being separated from his mother, he is now safe and well cared for.”
The cubs were rescued at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday, April 16, the same day people pulled the two cubs out of a tree in Asheville, posed for a selfie, and dropped them to the ground. A video of the incident is going viral.
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“After some time to get used to our care, she was introduced to another orphaned baby who had arrived earlier,” Trantham added. “Both cubs are growing well and are well cared for. They are eating well, communicating well, and doing all the things we want to see in young cubs. Our Team There is no reason to believe that the bear will not be fully rehabilitated before being released into the wild in the fall.
Trantham, who is one of four certified wildlife rehabilitators certified by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council in North Carolina, said the case has been in the news because it involved a bear, but it's a rare animal in the Appalachian wild. He emphasizes that it is important to remember that similar damage is being done to biological reserves. Harmful treatment of wildlife is common.
“If turtles, snakes, rabbits, opossums, squirrels, birds, raccoons, and fawns all react the same way when people harass, steal, or harm them, then we have won. It will be,” Trantham said. “Unfortunately for us, this child is just one of many animals we rehabilitate due to the negative effects of inappropriate relationships. That's why this initiative is so important. It is important and valuable for the public to understand the harm caused by human intervention and join us in efforts to promote healthier and more compassionate coexistence with wildlife.”
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is one of two baby black bear rehabilitation facilities licensed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge has been working with NCWRC to rehabilitate black bear cubs since spring 2020. Since taking in its first bear cub, the nonprofit organization has taken in and cared for his 39 injured or orphaned cubs rescued from around the state by NCWRC biologists. The cubs will be cared for in their natural habitat and isolated from crowded facilities until early to mid-fall, when they will be identified for release and returned to a wild area near their original location.
“We have taken in orphaned children whose mothers were killed by cars and gunfire, who were hit by cars, who became entangled or trapped in foreign objects, sometimes natural objects. “In similar cases, children have been removed from their own spaces and never been able to be reunited with their mothers,” Trantham said. “We always want all wild animals to be left in the wild and raised by their mothers. But we want these wild animals to really need our intervention. We strive every day to provide a place for people to go.”
Properly caring for wild animals is expensive. “Pubs are one of the most expensive patients we provide rehabilitation care for,” Trantham said, adding that the nonprofit needs food to release the cubs to a healthy size in the fall. He said the cost alone could cost $2,000 to $3,000 or more.
“If you adopt a healthy orphan baby at a young age, you can easily imagine that the food costs can range from $2,000 to $3,000, with special formula milk, dry foods, fresh produce, and whole prey in a variety of diets. In total, we spend about $20,000 to $30,000 each season on our cubs, from feeding and medical costs to habitat maintenance and enrichment.
“They are not only our most expensive patients, but also our most difficult to meet all of their needs and ensure they raise cubs that can succeed as wild bears. Our Donors Thanks to the incredible support from our and our supporters, we are able to provide space and care for these babies and all the injured and orphaned wild animals we take in.”
“It's not uncommon for baby animals to be separated from their mothers during the spring and summer months, and it's not necessarily a cause for concern. Leave them where you found them and call our hotline or other experts with any questions or concerns. Ask us for step-by-step instructions. Many wild mothers leave their babies in a safe place while they forage for food, and return when the time comes to feed and transport their young.
We see them alone and think they must be orphaned or abandoned, but most of the time they are where they are supposed to be.
After all, wild mothers know best! ” Transom said. “Here in Western North Carolina, it's the time of year when bears come out of their winter dens and teach their cubs how to be a bear. Like many of our wild mothers, the female chases her cubs. This is a normal occurrence and we encourage everyone to keep these children's events in mind and treat all wild animals with the respect they deserve.”
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is one of two black bear cub rehabilitation facilities accredited by the NCWRC. The wildlife facility is closed to the public in order to limit human contact and maintain wild conditions for all patients receiving treatment. For cubs, there is a small team of staff designated to handle these patients during their care. To this end, volunteers and interns have no contact with the bears and keep them as wild as possible during the rehabilitation period.
