Black bear cubs are cute, but wildlife experts say to keep your distance : NPR

Wildlife consultants are warning folks to not get near black bears after a video earlier this week confirmed folks in western North Carolina trying to seize two bear cubs from a tree.

The incident occurred outdoors an house complicated in Buncombe County and was captured on video on Tuesday.

Within the video, posted by the North Carolina Wildlife Assets Fee, a number of folks try to tug two black bears from a low-hanging department. One particular person manages to seize a cub and seems to pose with the wild animal for {a photograph}. After yelling out, the particular person drops the cub and the animal is seen operating alongside a fence because the particular person chases after it.

Rachel Staudt, a resident of the house complicated the place the occasion occurred, informed the Asheville Citizen-Occasions that she determined to begin recording the episode after asking the opposite residents to cease pulling on the cubs within the tree.

Ashley Hobbs, a biologist for the NCWRC and coordinator for BearWise, a nationwide training program to assist folks co-exist safely with black bears, informed NPR that the cub seen operating alongside the fence within the video was discovered moist and shivering in a retention pond close to the house complicated. The NCWRC information launch mentioned the opposite bear proven within the video has not been situated.

The discovered cub was delivered to an NCWRC rehabilitation facility and Hobbs informed NPR the bear is now “doing glorious.” She mentioned it is consuming and ingesting properly and that after NCWRC employees had been in a position to do a full analysis of the cub, they did not discover any lasting accidents from the encounter.

That being mentioned, Hobbs warns that the incident is not with out penalties. “We wish wild bears to remain wild,” she mentioned.

The rescued cub will likely be raised in captivity earlier than being launched into the wild within the fall

Elevating wildlife in captivity could cause stress to animals and generally rehabilitation services are unable to imitate the situations and care animals are accustomed to of their pure environments, mentioned Hobbs. For his or her security and preservation, Hobbs says elevating cubs in captivity is averted every time attainable.

Black bear cubs often stick with their moms for about 18 months, based on the Nationwide Park Service. The cubs seen in Newcombe County had been solely a few months previous, mentioned Hobbs.

“They’re nonetheless reliant on their mom for milk” at that age, she added.

As a result of the cub was faraway from the tree and could not be reunited with its mom, it’ll should be raised on the NCWRC rehabilitation facility earlier than it may be launched into the mountains of western North Carolina when it is totally weaned within the fall, Hobbs mentioned.

What to do if you happen to encounter a black bear cub

It’s normal for feminine black bears to go away their younger in secure areas whereas they search for meals. “She’ll forage for just a few hours and she or he’ll come again and decide them up,” Hobbs mentioned.

She additionally mentioned it is regular to see extra black bears within the springtime once they’re extra energetic than within the winter once they hibernate in North Carolina.

For that motive, Hobbs warns that if you happen to see a cub alone in a brush pile and even in your again porch, it does not imply it is really in peril or in want of assist. “More often than not, that is not the case. So if you happen to see a cub alone, it isn’t essentially a nasty factor. And that is why it is good to provide them a lot of area.”

If you happen to see a cub, Hobbs acknowledges it may be tempting to method them as a result of they’re among the “cutest little animals you may ever discover.” However she warns, “it is best to by no means method or attempt to deal with a black bear cub.”

It is harmful for the cub since you might by accident injure it whereas dealing with it or put it liable to being orphaned or separated from its mom.

Hobbs mentioned interacting with cubs also can put folks in danger. In keeping with BearWise, black bears not often turn out to be aggressive. However, Hobbs mentioned, they are going to hurt an individual in the event that they really feel the necessity to defend their meals or offspring.

If you happen to encounter a black bear cub, give them a lot of area, “again up and go in the wrong way.”

If you happen to really feel tempted to take {a photograph}, solely to take action from a distance. “We’ve got zoom on our cameras these days. Undoubtedly use the zoom if you wish to take an image,” Hobbs mentioned.

Fee spokesperson Anna Gurney informed The Related Press in an electronic mail on Friday that no prices could be filed towards the individuals who disturbed the cubs.