5 orphaned Northern California black bears are healthy after experimental rehab
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Five orphaned black bears were rehabilitated; one male was euthanized pre-release.
- The November 2025 winter release in California was the first and used GPS collars.
- Officials returned the rehabilitated bears to the counties where they were found.
Five orphaned black bears from Nevada, El Dorado and Calaveras counties survived winter hibernation and were healthy and active following an experimental rehabilitation effort, California wildlife officials said.
For the first time in California, the five bears were released into Northern California in November 2025 rather than a typical spring release, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release Tuesday.
The five bears established dens, hibernated through the winter and emerged in the spring, the release said. Black bears typically enter dens between October and December and reemerge between March and May, according to state wildlife officials.
“Bears are incredibly resilient,” Alexia Ronning, an environmental scientist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Tahoe bear specialist, said in the release. “They have an innate behavior to find shelter when snow starts to accumulate on the ground.”
‘A massive win’
Officials said the early-release effort was the first of its kind in California but had been tested previously in nearby states, including Nevada and Washington. The bears were tagged and fitted with GPS collars so officials could track the success of the program.
According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, a winter release can limit the amount of time bears spend out of the wild and the costs associated with bears having to stay in a facility.
“This is a massive win,” Dr. Heather Perry, the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s wildlife rehabilitation program coordinator, said in the release. “It highlights the important and unique role of wildlife rehabilitators — and wildlife rehabilitation by its very definition — in the conservation of California’s native wildlife.”
Where were the bears found?
Here’s where officials said the five bears were found abandoned:
- Two female siblings were found near Nevada City in May 2025 and were returned to Nevada County after rehabilitation.
- A lone male cub was found in South Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County in June 2025 and was returned to El Dorado County after rehabilitation.
- Three male siblings were found in Arnold in Calaveras County in July 2025. One was sick and was euthanized, while the other two were returned to Calaveras County after rehabilitation.
The three male siblings were taken to the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, while the two female siblings and the lone male were taken to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue.
Are black bears endangered?
While black bears are the smallest bear in North America, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, males can get up to about 500 pounds, with most bears weighing between 100 and 400.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife describes black bears as “highly food motivated,” and recommends preventing black bears from accessing trash, food and other attractive smells to avoid conflicts with humans.
There has only been one reported fatal black bear attack in California, which took place in Sierra County in 2024.
The population has remained relatively stable over the past decade, with an estimated 49,000 to 71,000 black bears statewide, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“Black bears provide many ecosystem services and are an important part of California’s unique biodiversity,” the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s info page read.
