KY Cub Piccola Bear

Posted on   December 24, 2018
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Category  :  Bear Feature Stories & Photos

Our last post told about the KY cub Viola and her life at ABR. She stayed with us longer than any other 2018 cub (7 months). By contrast, our second Kentucky girl, Piccola, needed our care for only 4 months.

Piccola arrived in August, and when she was checked at UTCVM it was found that she had a punctured intestine. This necessitated surgery to repair the injury. She was in a very precarious situation as she was on restricted diet, antibiotics and pain meds, and, worst of all for a bear cub, she was prohibited from climbing.

At UT, Piccola’s injuries are repaired.

Fortunately, ceilings of the pens in the Recovery Center at ABR can be lowered to restrict movement. With the speed of recovery that is typical of bears, she soon was feeling better and demanded more space.

Piccola in the recovery center. Meds were disguised in applesauce.
Piccola soon became stronger and showed curators she wanted to go out.
Piccola was moved to an Acclimation Pen, but she wanted more space. She wanted OUT!
Less than a month after she arrived, Piccola stepped out into the Wild Enclosure.
She was busy in the Wild Enclosure. She wrestled with saplings.
She played with the swingy ball.
She went swimming in the Cubby Pool.
She climbed up high in trees.
Piccola was good at entertaining herself. Then after a month went by, Dash Bear joined her.
Although Dash was a larger bear, Piccola showed her who was boss.
It took a while, but eventually Dash and Piccola learned to coexist. They foraged together
They foraged close together and took rest breaks together.
Both cubs liked the Cubby Pool.
Piccola was always a busy little bear. She even moved the safety logs out of the Cubby Pool!
Dash and Piccola Bear played. Piccola is the one standing up.
Piccola Bear grew. She wasn’t so little now.
Piccola and Dash Bear wandered in and out of the Acclimation Pen prior to the workup for their releases.


Piccola, stayed in the Acclimation Pen, ready for the passive capture protocol. She was ready to go home.



Our next post will show the procedure for the workup and release of the two Kentucky girls.