Young bears saved after mom’s death return to wild, California video shows

Two young black bears rescued after the death of their mother left them orphans have returned to the wild, a California video shows.

The brothers, raised by the San Diego Humane Society until they were old enough to survive on their own, were released into the San Bernardino National Forest on May 15, the society said in a May 22 news release.

A video posted by the society shows the two young bears dashing to freedom after being released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As the bears run away, wildlife officers shout at them and fire harmless powder balls at them, the video shows.

“The more uncomfortable the bears are with human associations, the better for their safety and public safety,” Nina Thompson with the society told McClatchy News. “The powder balls are not dangerous for the bears.”

The two bears were tracked and captured by the department in July after their mother’s body was found, the society said.

At 5 months old, the bears were too young to survive on their own, the society said. Black bear cubs typically remain with their mothers until they are about 17 months old.

The rescued cubs were taken to the society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, where they were kept isolated from humans to prevent them from becoming acclimated, the release said.

“The bears were kept in an outdoor enclosure mimicking their natural environment with native plants and substrate, such as California live oak, pine, clover, mulberry branches, fruit tree branches, mulch, hummingbird sage, sumac, chamomile flowers and herbs,” the society said.

They were fed fruits, vegetables, nuts, peanut butter and bear chow, and received a gift of a 467-pound pumpkin donated by Kristen and Jason Bush of Escondido after Halloween.

In all, the bears spent about 10 months in the humane society’s care.

“It’s a delicate skill to raise wild bears in captivity,” said Andy Blue, campus director of San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. “Bears eat more than 10 pounds of food per day, so to ensure they are fed without our staff ever being seen, and that they have plenty of enrichment to exhibit their natural behaviors without leaving human scents behind, takes meticulous planning.”

The bears have been outfitted with microchips and GPS trackers.