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The goal of the Idaho Black Bear Rehab program is to save orphaned cubs whenever possible. It is not our goal to place them in zoos or wildlife parks, but to release them into a suitable bear habitat. Bears are inherently shy animals. Except for family groups, they are solitary for most of the year. Many behaviors they need to survive in the wild are instinctive and we do not need to teach them to be bears. As a result, bears are particularly good candidates for rehabilitation. To help accomplish our goal, IBBR has strived since 1989 to establish and maintain good working relationships with wildlife agencies. The public can help orphaned cubs by understanding the options available to their wildlife agencies and what options they normally use to resolve orphaned cub situations. Take an interest in bear management practices and learn what the wildlife agency in your state and other states do with the orphaned cubs. Key elements for a successful reintroduction into the wild:
Rehab cubs rarely, if ever starve to death after release; they are not all shot during hunting seasons; they definitely do not all become problem bears. In reality, the majority simply merge into the population and face the same survival risks as any other bear.
When reports come to wildlife agencies on an orphaned cub, they have four options: State and federal wildlife agencies focus on managing populations, not individuals. They do not have the people, facilities, or funding to handle individual animals requiring rehabilitation. Wildlife rehabilitators are volunteer arms of wildlife agencies. They provide a valuable service to wildlife agencies, communities, and people concerned about the welfare of orphaned or injured bear cubs. They willingly accept responsibility for the work, time, day to day care, medical treatment, and expenses associated with helping orphaned and injured wildlife. That makes wildlife rehabilitators and wildlife agencies a perfect team. Rehabilitators manage individual animals in need of short term care and wildlife agencies manage populations for long term viability. What any wildlife agency does with orphaned cubs can depend on many factors: What you can do to help orphaned cubs Some wildlife agencies will euthanize orphaned cubs or place them in captive facilities without opting for bear rehab even when available to them. In those situations, the public should ask why rehab was not an option. Although our wildlife agencies focus on bear populations, it is important they recognize that the public does care about orphaned or injured cubs and respond to those concerns. Bear cub rehab should be the first option whenever possible in their bear management plan. Placing orphaned cubs in permanent facilities is not the preferred alternative, even when that option is feasible. Wildlife agencies must be accountable for their policies and actions. The public also has a responsibility and a role in helping wildlife agencies to develop sound policies for rehabilitating orphaned bear cubs. What should I do if I see an orphaned cub? As a caring and compassionate society, each of us has a responsibility for the welfare of our wildlife. If you think you found an orphaned cub, take the following steps:
If you know of an orphaned cub at risk, please contact the local wildlife agency. Ask questions and get as much information on the situation as possible. If you still feel the cub is at risk, e-mail IBBR and we will try to help in whatever way possible. Please give us as many accurate details as you can. Include the name, phone number, or e-mail of a wildlife agency contact or an individual who is directly involved in trying to help the cub. Although there are not many bear rehabilitators in the U.S., IBBR does try to keep an updated list of known licensed rehabilitators experienced in handling bears. We will try to find the one nearest you. IBBR also accepts cubs for rehab from other states, but these cubs must return to their home state for release. If the wildlife agency agrees to take the cub back for release and it is feasible from a logistic standpoint, IBBR can take the orphaned cub into our program. Let's make it as easy as possible for wildlife agencies to use rehab as their first option. IBBR will do what we can by sharing our expertise to help any cub at risk. Also, if you know of a wildlife rehabilitator in your state that takes orphaned cubs, please share that information with us.
Government Wildlife Agencies - United States
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