ABR received two more neonate cubs, these from South Carolina. We will use the text from the Facebook page, because it explains the situation so well yesterday (January 30):
Early this morning, Biologist Tammy Waldrop from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources called ABR. She explained that late last night, there was a wildfire in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Firemen deployed their large fire fighting equipment to the scene. The equipment accidentally disturbed a bear den site. As they continued to work, firemen heard crying in the area. They searched through the brush and found two tiny cubs of the year. We don’t know what happened to their mother bear. Members of the team quickly gathered the cubs and warmed them with blankets. A fireman took the cubs home late last night and kept them warm through early morning. This morning, he contacted DNR Bear Biologist Kayla Brantley in Georgetown County who immediately went to retrieve the two cubs.
It’s been a very long day! We quickly worked with TWRA and the SC DNR to iron out all the transfer details. Then Curators Haley and Cole headed to South Carolina. Georgetown County is in the coastal area of South Carolina, more than eight hours drive from Townsend, Tennessee. Many folks don’t realize that there’s a sizable population of black bears in that area. In fact, Curator Tori’s Human Dimensions in Wildlife Masters Study at Clemson University focuses on human-bear conflict in coastal South Carolina. Curator Bailey came in early for her shift at the ABR facility. Curator Tori left Michigan early this morning to come to Tennessee to help with the neonates.
Biologist Kayla fed the cubs and started driving northwest. Biologist Tammy left the Clemson area and headed southeast to meet Kayla. They met and transferred the cubs and Tammy drove with the cubs to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to meet Curators Haley and Cole. In Spartanburg, the cubs were taken to Pine Street Animal Hospital for food and fluids. Dr. Glenn Adcock and his team very graciously helped these cubs and refused to accept any payment for their efforts. Both cubs received fluids. The male cub took a bottle from Curator Haley, but the female cub didn’t want any part of a bottle. Dr. Adcock tube fed the little bear to give her enough nourishment for the trip to Tennessee.
Curators Cole and Haley just arrived at The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM). Dr. Waligora and her team were already there and waiting to help the cubs. The female cub weighs 340 grams. The male weighs 454 grams. They will receive a full intake exam and will spend tonight with Bits Bear in the UTCVM ICU. Our new incubator shipped on Monday and should arrive on Thursday. We hope that all three cubs will come to the ABR Cub Nursery later this week.
Help us welcome ABR 392 Pawley Bear and his sister ABR 393 Carolina Bear. We will do our best for them. Please keep Twinkle, Tinsel, Bits, Pawley and Carolina Bear in your hearts!
Two tiny, neonate cubs are now joining Bits Bear at UTCVM.