chloe rafferty and ashley jackson
7 minutes ago
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) – A group of bears were caught on camera pulling two bear cubs out of a tree for a photo together in North Carolina, wildlife officials said.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) shared video of an incident reported at an apartment complex in Asheville on Tuesday, April 16.
In the video, several people approach a tree where two bear cubs are perched on a branch. The group then begins pulling the animal out of the tree. One person who was taking a photo with the cub ended up dropping it after hearing a loud screech.
“Did she just drop it? Oh my god, she's running, poor thing,” a bystander said in the video.
Witnesses told wildlife officials that the cub bit one of the humans before the bear ran away.
NCWRC Bearwise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs said the cub was later found in poor condition at a nearby reservoir.
“The cub appeared lethargic and frightened. It appeared to be cherishing one of its paws and was wet and shivering,” she said.
NCWRC Mammal Hunting and Research Supervisor Colleen Olfenbuttel said in a statement that the bear's condition was “likely the result of unnecessary and irresponsible actions by those involved.”
The baby was taken to a licensed rehabilitation facility with the aim of releasing it back into the wild later this year. The other cub has not been found.
“Ashley and our enforcement staff searched the area for a second cub, but were unable to find it. Our hope is that she will be reunited with her mother, as she cannot survive on her own at this young age. ” said James Tomberlin, NCWRC Mountain Operations Supervisor.
Wildlife officials thanked the Buncombe County Sheriff for reporting the incident to NCWRC and the person who recorded and submitted the footage.
“I want to thank the person who captured the video and contacted the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department, otherwise we would never have known about this incident,” Olfenbuttel said. “Thanks to the actions of this good Samaritan, we were able to rescue at least one baby. Her video provides the evidence we need to better understand what happened. He gave it to me.”
The NCWRC said it was still investigating the incident, but commission spokeswoman Anna Gurney told The Associated Press that no charges would be filed.
What should I do if I see a bear cub?
Anyone who believes they have encountered an orphaned bear cub should contact wildlife authorities and do not attempt to capture it.
But once bear cubs are seen alone, they are rarely orphaned or abandoned, wildlife biologists say.
“Mom bears often forage nearby and return within a few hours or sooner,” they explained. “If you stay put or try to grab the baby, you could accidentally pull it away from the mother and cause injury to the baby.”
They said people should give mothers enough space and time to interact with their babies.
NCWRC shared some tips on how to avoid harming yourself or the bear cubs.
- Please do not handle it.
- Don't try to catch it.
- Do not remove it.
- Please do not feed it.
Wildlife experts say cubs require a very specific diet, and commercially available baby formula and other foods (pet food, fruit) can seriously compromise their health.
“It is imperative that the general public do not feed bears of any age,” Olfenbuttel said. “This makes them habituated to humans, making it more difficult to release them back into the wild. Last year, an orphaned cub was kept and fed by people, despite the best efforts of rehabilitators. Unfortunately, the cub was too accustomed to being released back into the wild.
She also explained that it is illegal to capture or keep black bear cubs in North Carolina.
“As we saw in this case, things don't often end well for both humans and bears,” Olfenbuttel said.