by After the California Department of Fish and Wildlife rescued three orphaned black bear cubs in Calaveras County, they were taken to the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona campus.
For days, the three orphaned siblings, who were between six and seven months old, had been spotted wandering by themselves in a neighborhood.
A week following their discovery, a center-affiliated veterinary team conducted a health evaluation under anesthesia, including dental examinations and other diagnostics to determine their status.
The cubs were determined to be one female and two males by the team. But according to doctors, the female cub had a gunshot wound and a deformed shoulder and elbow that were probably present from birth. They noted that she would have had permanent mobility problems and considerable discomfort as a result of the malformations.
In order to save her suffering for an extended period of time, the Humane Society’s veterinary staff opted to humanely end her life after consulting with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to society officials.
“We never make this decision lightly,” stated Dr. Alexis Wohl, San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Veterinary Manager. However, merciful euthanasia is occasionally the most humane course of action when an animal’s quality of life would be seriously jeopardized.
Their mother’s whereabouts are unknown, and she was never found.
After being deemed healthy, the two male cubs were relocated to a sizable outdoor enclosure that was intended to replicate their native environment.
As they get healthier and are ready for a possible return to the wild, the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team will keep caring for them, officials said.
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According to Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center of the San Diego Humane Society, this is a crucial time for these bears. We are making every effort to provide them with the best opportunity to return to their wild home.
Black bear cubs are currently exclusively accepted for rehabilitation at the Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center in the state. Both Gold Country Wildlife Rescue and Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue were overcrowded and unable to take in the cubs.
The San Diego Humane Society depends solely on donations to sustain its wildlife work; it does not get any state money.
This report was contributed to by City News Service.
