An emaciated bear cub died March 21 shortly after state wildlife trooper Colin Nemec rescued it from a goat pen and brought it to Haines Animal Rescue Kennel (HARK).
The first-year cub was found in the goat enclosure on March 20. Nemec said he was notified that day, a Sunday, and installed a trail camera to observe the bear overnight to see if a sow was around.
With a fresh coat of snow in the morning, Nemec said, “There were no signs of a sow and the cub hadn’t moved.”
The cub was alive but unresponsive and visibly malnourished. Nemec decided to bring it to HARK, while coordinating with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game about possible transport to a captive facility. “It was very emaciated and passed away a few hours after we brought it to HARK,” Nemec said.
Although HARK is not a veterinary service, Stacey Clark, HARK director, said they gave the cub fluids and attempted to warm it up.
“We did what we could here, but it was too far gone,” Clark said. “It was so sad. It was just so emaciated. It was obvious it had been on its own for a while.”
Clark added that the cub exhibited no obvious injuries or any signs of harm caused by a human.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Carl Koch said the agency does place abandoned yearling black and brown bear cubs in captive facilities, but they must be healthy.
“It never would have been shipped to Juneau unless it was healthy enough,” Koch said. “It would only go to a captive facility. We don’t rescue bears and put them back in the wild.”
It’s unclear why the cub was abandoned.
“The other part of this story is the mystery of what happened to mom,” Koch said. “A cub this small should not be alone. If it is this year’s cub, it would not be alone unless its mom died.”
Koch said he advises against handling, approaching or taking orphaned animals and encouraged concerned residents to contact wildlife specialists.