RHINELANDER, Wisc. (WJFW) — Wild Instincts in Rhinelander worked around the clock to stabilize a bear cub after it was improperly cared for when it was found abandoned with two other cubs in a cornfield near Ladysmith.
Now the cub is on the mend, and growing every day.
In early January, three bear cubs were found abandoned in a cornfield, the cubs just three to four days old. The cubs weighed only about one pound each.
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“They all had aspiration pneumonia and were coughing up blood,” Naniot said. “And a too little too late kind of situation. And we did get the male through it but both the females died.”
The first cub passed away within 12 hours of being brought to the facility, the other passed within 48 hours.
After a few difficult weeks, Wild Instincts worked hard to stabilize the remaining cub.
Seven weeks later, he's now thriving.
“So, the single bear that’s left is fat, happy and doing very well,” Naniot said. “Eyes are open and getting a little more active.”
The cub is now over six pounds and is beginning to move around on his own. He has been moved from an incubator into a larger tub to accommodate his growing size.
Naniot was hoping to get the cub into a foster den but was unable to find one. Foster dens are used to place orphaned bears with a mother, and help them to learn to be a wild bear.
“Raising a single like that is iffy because they can tend to imprint on people,” Naniot said.
To avoid this, they have limited human interaction with the cub.
Typically, around spring time, Wild Instincts rehabilitate many baby bears, so the cub will learn to interact with other bears.
“As more coming in later on,, he’ll get to buddy up with some other ones later,” Naniot said. “And hopefully we’ll get some in soon enough that he won’t start looking to humans.”
This cub, along with others, will remain at Wild Instincts until they are large enough for their release in October.
Naniot says if you find an animal that has been abandoned or injured, to call Wild Instincts as soon as possible.
“Call first, and then act second,” Naniot said. “That way we don’t make a mistake and do something that could have been avoided.”
Wild Instincts can be reached at 715-362-9453.
