Wild Instincts of Rhinelander have their paws full. The wildlife rehabilitation center has taken in five abandoned Blackbear cubs.
The cubs were rescued by transport drivers, who picked up the cubs and took them to the animal facility, adding the 5 Blackbear cubs to the Wild Instincts roster.
The director of the wildlife rehabilitation center said that when the first cub arrived at the center, it had been mistaken for a small dog, and they ended up getting more abandoned ones. Mark Naniot who is the director of Wild Instincts, believes the baby bears are all around the same age, and were born in the middle of January.
At this time, the cubs are being sheltered in an indoor, shared room. When the time comes to move the bears outside, they will be relocated to a mid-sized enclosure, that is 50 feet by 12 feet. They will remain there for around 2 weeks until being placed in an enclosure for large bears.
When it comes to feeding the baby bears, it is done so with little to no human contact. Naniot explained the process is done quickly. The cubs are located within a small den and do not see the staff. The members then go in, clean the enclosure and replenish the cub’s food supply. The current diet of the Blackbears is protein-rich foods and formula.
Come October, the cubs will be released back in the wild after bear season.
