Orphaned Bear Cubs Rehabilitated In San Diego County Move To Sonoma County

RAMONA, CA — Two orphaned bear cubs have a second chance in Northern California, thanks to months of rehabilitation at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The cubs were first rescued after being spotted wandering alone for several days without their mother in Calaveras County by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The brothers were about 5 to 6 months old when they were brought to the Ramona Wildlife Center for care and rehabilitation in July, according to San Diego Humane Society.

For 119 days, under the supervision of the organization's Project Wildlife team, the cubs received medical evaluations and behavioral monitoring to prepare them for life back in the wild. During their stay, they were housed in an outdoor enclosure designed to minimize human contact while helping them develop the survival skills they will need for their native habitat.

To continue to improve their chances of succeeding on their own when they are released back into the wild next spring, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife decided to move the cubs to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue to hibernate with two other orphaned bear cubs. The cubs were flown on Thursday to Sonoma from Ramona by Flying Tails Animal Rescue.

"In wildlife rehabilitation, true success is always a team effort," said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager of Ramona Wildlife Center. "Our mission is to give every animal the strongest chance to thrive in the wild, and we're grateful to CDFW, Flying Tails and Sonoma for being such valued partners in that work."