Topic overview
In brief
- A report of a dog wandering near a highway led deputies to discover an injured bear cub.
- The bear cub was malnourished, dehydrated, and had an injured foot.
- The cub is being rehabilitated and will be released into the wilderness after hibernation.
Summary
In the Colorado community of Westcliffe, a report of a wandering dog near a highway led to the unexpected rescue of an injured bear cub. On Wednesday, a concerned citizen alerted the Custer County Sheriff's Office about a dog seen near Airport Road. Upon arrival, deputies found not a dog, but a malnourished and dehydrated bear cub with an injured foot. This discovery prompted immediate action from the deputies, who contacted Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for guidance on how to safely capture the bear cub. Following CPW's instructions, the deputies managed to secure the cub and transport it back to the sheriff's office.
A CPW officer later arrived to pick up the bear cub and took it to a rehabilitation facility located near Del Norte. The facility is equipped to provide the necessary veterinary care and rehabilitation for the injured cub. Authorities have indicated that the bear cub will spend the winter in an artificial den, allowing it to hibernate safely. Once spring arrives and the cub wakes from hibernation, plans are in place for its release back into the wilderness, where it can resume its natural life.