Although Appalachian Bear Rescue is always glad to be able to help cubs in need, we are sad when bear cubs become orphaned.  We received 3 sibling cubs a couple of days ago, 2 females and a male.  They are healthy and average-sized for cubs in the wild.  Cub #210, nicknamed Pansy, weighed 13.5 pounds.  Her sister Cub #211, nicknamed Petal,  weighed in at 16.5 pounds, and their brother Cub #212, nicknamed Peanut, weighed 17.5 pounds.  They were tagged and spent a very short time in the acclimation pen that adjoins the Wild Enclosure where Juliette and Summer are residing.  As soon as the curator determined that they were doing well and had completely recovered from sedation, the door to that Wild Enclosure was lifted and they were free to go.  As might be expected, since they were with their mother for about six months, they were only too ready to get back into a familiar habitat.  Our photographer, Ken LaValley, was there to document their first introduction to the Wild Enclosure.

Cub #210 (Pansy Bear) was the first one to step outside.

Pansy ventures out.

Up the nearest tree she goes!

Next out was her brother, Cub #@11 (Peanut Bear).  He went to the tree, but peeked out from behind it before climbing up to join his sister.

Peanut hid behind a tree.

The last to emerge was #212 (Petal Bear).  She posed for the photographer before climbing the tree to join the rest of the family.

Petal Bear waited at the base of the tree.

Petal quickly climbed to join her brother and sister.

With all three cubs safely in the tree, Ken showed us the differences between his camera and the one that the curators use.  We think the curators do a great job, but it’s obvious that the professional equipment makes a big difference in the quality of the photos!  Thank you Ken LaValley!

Two cameras.