It’s true – ABR received another needy, orphaned cub.  He is a little male, nicknamed Tucker Bear, and he weighs only 8.8 pounds.  Like Cub #222, Shelby Bear, and all the other cubs in residence, Tucker is nine months old.  But he is severely malnourished, dehydrated, and his exam at the UT Vet School showed him to be anemic.

Citizens alerted TWRA to the plight of this little cub, and the wildlife officers set a trap to catch him.  Here he is in the trap that very likely saved his life.

Cub #223, Tucker Bear in the TWRA trap.

As we can see, he is a very thin little cub. He was taken straight to the UT Vet School for a checkup.

Tucker Bear is examined by Dr. Sullivan and his assistant.

When we think of the beautiful, shiny black fur on our resident cubs, it is clear to see that this little guy is not well.

Dr. Sullivan gives the cub a Vitamin D shot.

His pale gums are indicative of anemia.

Pale gums mean the cub is anemic.

Despite his poor condition, Tucker Bear had the feisty, wild spirit of a wild bear.  That is a good sign.  He was taken to the Cub Nursery at ABR and is housed temporarily in the pen next to Shelby Bear.

Tucker Bear in the Cub Nursery.

Tucker Bear is on the same course of medications as Shelby Bear.  The other little bears have finished their meds and we will post about them later today.  Tucker and Shelby will both be eating soft foods like yogurt, grapes, and applesauce with their medicines mixed in.  We hope that both of them will rebound and improve quickly with the help of good nutrition and the prescribed medicines.