Black bears are incredible creatures in their natural habitat — both powerful and majestic.
That’s why it’s so heartbreaking to witness them suffer, wasting away to the point of near starvation.
In December 2024, animal experts at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR) in North Auburn, California, received word of a tragic case. Though they were no strangers to heartbreaking rescues, this one shook them to the core.
They found a young black bear struggling to survive alone in El Dorado County. The bear was suffering from dehydration, anemia, and a severe skin infection. He cowered in his crate, staring down at his oversized paws.
“It was heartbreaking to see a bear cub in such terrible condition,” GCWR marketing and outreach manager Chelsea Engberg told The Dodo.
The combination of being orphaned and severely malnourished likely triggered a chain reaction that caused his health to rapidly decline before rescuers stepped in.
Rescuers performed a detailed examination and developed a careful treatment plan for the struggling bear. The bear weighed just 20 pounds, so everyone knew his path to recovery would be tough. But they were determined to do everything possible to save him.
After several weeks of care, the cub’s once-bare face began showing signs of new fur growth.
“While it might not seem like a big change, the fact that we are starting to see fur fuzz grow on his face is an exciting next step in his healing journey,” GCWR shared in a Facebook update.
As time passed, hope grew stronger among the rescue team. The cub started to show his wild, playful nature, enjoying toys and enrichment items in his enclosure — from a kiddie pool to a firehose hammock. The team kept their distance to give him the best chance at returning to the wild.
By February, the transformation was remarkable — the cub looked like a completely new bear.
“We are always amazed by the wild animals in our care, and this bear cub is one of the most amazing recoveries we have seen,” Engberg shared.