Bearly Made It: Orphaned & Malnourished Cub Rescued in New York

Against all odds, a little black bear cub survived a brutal winter—entirely on its own.

Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center believe he lost his mom early and somehow managed to find just enough to survive until the weather warmed up. He was spotted near the trails on Hunter Mountain, so weak he could barely walk, let alone climb to safety.

When rescuers arrived, they were shocked they could actually pick up the cub and carry him out—something that never happens with wild bears.

He weighed only 15 pounds, when most his age would be closer to 55. "He was so frail he could not eat solid food."

Credit - Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center/Facebook

On the Mend

The cub was given a lot of TLC and a special soft diet that included baby food until he slowly started eating solids on his own.

Just ten days later, he’d gained 6 pounds. He’s now moved to an outdoor enclosure next to six other bears who spent the winter at the Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center.

"In a few weeks as he packs on more weight, we will introduce him to the other bears."

Bears in New York

There's a minimum of 6,000 to 8,000 bears in New York State, according to the DEC.

Where are the bears in New York state?

50-60% inhabit the Adirondack region
30-35% inhabit the the Catskill region
10-15% inhabit the central-western region.

Bears are now well established in many other areas, including the Tug Hill, Hudson Valley, and across the Southern Tier.

Tips to Avoid Bears

The DEC has tips on what to do if you encounter a bear.

Do:

Use noise to scare bears away: Yell, clap, or bang pots immediately upon sighting a bear.
Stay calm: Walk slowly and speak in a loud and calm voice.
Leave slowly: Cautiously back away from the bear and leave the area.

Don't:

Approach, surround, or corner a bear: Bears aggressively defend themselves when they feel threatened. Be especially cautious around cubs as mother bears are very protective.
Run from a bear: They may chase.
Throw your backpack or food bag at an approaching bear: This will only encourage bears to approach and "bully" people to get food. By teaching a bear to approach humans for food, you are endangering yourself, other campers/residents, and the bears.
Further Action
If a bear approaches you: Raise your arms and speak in a loud, calm voice while backing away.
If a bear charges you: Stand your ground. If you have bear spray, dispense directly at the bear.
If a bear follows you: Stand your ground. Intimidate by making yourself look bigger by waving arms, clapping, shouting, or banging sticks. Prepare to fight or use bear spray.
If a bear makes contact with you: Fight back with anything at hand (knife, stick, rocks, or fists).

To Avoid Bears Coming Onto Your Property:

Take down bird feeders in April. Bird feed such as suet and seeds are a very strong attraction for bears, even if they can't reach them.
Clean your grill. Turn the grill on high for several minutes after you are done cooking to burn residual odors.
Lock up your trash. Garbage is extremely attractive to bears. It should always be kept in sealed garbage cans inside a building like a garage or shed. Anything with an odor can attract a bear.
Do not feed your pets outside. Leftover food or even an empty dish can attract a bear.
Do not have refrigerators or freezers outside or on porches. Bears can smell what is inside.

If You're Camping:

Throw out all your trash and recyclables.
Lock up your coolers and food. Store food in either the trunk of your car or in the cab of your truck. Keep windows shut and food and coolers out of sight.
NEVER keep food, coolers, or scented items in your tent.
Treat all toiletries as food items. Toiletry products are heavily scented and are as attractive to bears as actual food.
Clean up after all meals immediately. Keep grills, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and wash basins clean when not in use.
Do not put grease, garbage, plastic diapers, cans, bottles, or other refuse into the fireplace. These items do not properly burn and will attract bears with their odors.
Always remember when exploring the wilderness - you're in their home. Be vigilant and stay safe.