Three bear cubs from Dryden receive rehabilitation care

Three young black bear cubs have been rescued and are now being cared for at a rehabilitation center in southern Ontario. The cubs were found after their den was disturbed by logging activities in the Dryden area. Mike McIntosh, who runs the Bear With Us Sanctuary, said the cubs are about eight weeks old. At this age, they should still be with their mother in the den. The cubs are still learning to move around, often crawling and falling over as they adjust to their new surroundings. Since the cubs are too young to eat solid food, they are being bottle-fed special formula. McIntosh explained that feeding them is very time-consuming and can be stressful due to their developing digestive systems. If they do not adapt to the formula, they could face serious health issues. The sanctuary’s goal is to release the cubs back into the wild once they are ready. McIntosh highlighted the importance of preserving the cubs' natural fear of humans so they can survive independently after their release. The sanctuary has successfully returned over 800 bears to the wild since it opened in the early 1990s. Experts say that the cubs' mother is unlikely to return for them. Martyn Obbard, a scientist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, noted that female black bears often abandon their young if they are disturbed. He mentioned that many bear cubs do not survive to adulthood, with about half not making it past their first year. Given the circumstances, the sanctuary believes it is important to rehabilitate the cubs and prepare them for a future in the wild.