Rare Black Bear Cub Gets Rehabilitated in San Diego

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A two-month-old black bear cub was found alone and starving in Los Padres National Forest - what happened next will amaze you.

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Campers discovered the helpless cub on April 12, 2025, with his mother nowhere in sight and his survival hanging by a thread.

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Wildlife experts made a desperate attempt to reunite him with his mother by leaving him overnight in the forest - but she never returned.

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"He was extremely fragile when he arrived," says Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager - those first few days were touch-and-go.

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This rescue is extraordinary - California has only seen four bear cubs this young needing rescue care in the past five years.

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Ramona Wildlife Center is the only facility in San Diego County equipped to handle big predators like bears, mountain lions, and bobcats.

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Staff provides four daily enrichment sessions that mimic maternal behaviors - but why is keeping him wild so crucial?

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The team never names their patients and limits human contact to prevent the cub from becoming too comfortable with people.

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This tiny survivor needs a full year of care before returning to the forest - and he might get a companion if another orphaned cub arrives.

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From fighting for survival to thriving in just one month - this cub's incredible recovery proves what dedicated wildlife care can accomplish.

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