Severely Burned Bear Cub Rescued After Suffering Through Washington Wildfire [Video]

A severely burned bear cub was rescued after suffering through the Washington wildfire. In a report out by KOMO News, the 6-month-old cub was transferred to Wenatchee where she began receiving care.

Methow Valley homeowner, Steve Love says his dog was barking and his was horse acting up when the small bear tried making to her way up the driveway. The cub was seriously injured from the Carlton Complex Fire. As soon as Love approached the animal, she made intimidating sounds that made him back off. Not long after that, he was able to give her apricots and water.

Love says of the injured bear:

“Later in the evening, she was lying down making pitiful whimpering noises. I got about six feet away, sat down and talked to it in a soothing way, telling it things would be okay. It seemed to make it feel better. It stopped making the noises.”

A Fish and Wildlife Police Officer arrived the next day to transport the bear to Wenatchee, where state biologist, Rich Beausoleil, took over.

Beausoleil describes the burned bear cub’s wounds:

“They’re severe. All four paws were 3rd degree burns. She has some burns to her face and arms and chest. Those were relatively minor and I think that will grow back. It’s the four feet we’re worried about.”

East Wenatchee veterinarian, Dr. Randy Hein, donated his services and medicine for the bear they named “Cinder”; Beausoleil fed her a combination of yogurt and dog food.

In looking for a place where Cinder could to reside during her recovery, Sally Maughan of Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation referred Beausoleil to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. The only problem there was it wasn’t a “sure thing” and cost taxpayers $500. So, Beausoleil contacted a Pilots for Paws and a pilot from Seattle volunteered to pick up bear and fly her to Tahoe.

Cinder is reportedly in Tahoe doing well.

“She was in good spirits, not crying and eating and drinking very normally and that’s a great sign so we’re optimistic that she’ll make a recovery,” says Beausoleil.

According to USA Today, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care co-founder Tom Millham thinks Cinder’s recovery will probably take several weeks to several months for her to heal from second-and third-degree burns before she’s ready for release.

Millham says:

“She has burns on all four of her legs and her face, and she may have additional damage that I haven’t personally seen yet.”

Millham adds that these types of burns are very painful for both animals and people to recover from. The burned bear cub is definitely in the right hands at the Lake Tahoe rehabilitation facility.

[Image via Marcella Corona, Reno Gazette-Journal]