In December 2024, rescuers at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue in California were shaken by the condition of a young black bear cub found in El Dorado County. Severely dehydrated, anemic, and nearly hairless from a skin infection, the orphaned cub weighed just 20 pounds and was barely clinging to life.

“It was heartbreaking,” said GCWR’s Chelsea Engberg. The team immediately created a careful treatment plan, unsure if he’d make it. But slowly, the little bear began to heal. Fur returned to his face, and his wild instincts—playing with toys and exploring—started to shine through.

By February, his transformation amazed everyone. “He didn’t even look like a bear when he arrived,” Engberg recalled. “Now, he’s thriving and still avoids human interaction, which is a great sign.”

 

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Then, on May 13, GCWR shared that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife had decided he wouldn’t return to the wild. Instead, the cub will live safely in a sanctuary.

Thanks to months of care and compassion, this once-sick cub now has a second chance—and a forever home.