RASCAL – DeRoche

Rascal arrived at Critter Care’s doors on June 9, 2011 from DeRoche. No one is sure what happened to his mom, but one day he showed up in a gentleman’s yard. For three days Rascal lived in the yard, sleeping under the windowsill, and nibbling on grass with no mom in sight. Concerned about the little cub the gentleman walked up to Rascal, picked him up, placed him in a kennel, and then called the Conservation Officers Service, who then directed him to Critter Care.

Rascal arrived weighing in at an emaciated 7lbs. He was immediately given a dish of special bear milk that he quickly ate up. A quick trip to the vet gave Rascal a clean bill of health – all he needed was food and a safe place to grow up, which is exactly what he was going to get!

Rascal, earned his name because he loves to find and create mischief. Everything quickly became a toy (especially if it wasn’t a toy), thoroughly investigated, and destroyed. He is a big bear in a little, itty bitty body.

After having 16 bears last year, Rascal is the only bear cub currently in care. Being alone, however, hasn’t dampened this little bear’s spirits. He loves to play on his tire swing, his many hanging toys, and his three pet goldfish...

KODY, KARSTEN, and KEETON – Anmore

On the morning of August 8, 2011, the lives of three cubs, and a town were about to be changed forever. While walking his dog near Buntzen Lake, Ken Hogue, unknowingly came between a mother bear and her three cubs. Wanting to defend her cubs, the mother charged the man – knocking him down and then standing over him. This mother bear then decided that scaring Ken was enough and walked away, but Ken’s dog decided to run after the bear – which only caused her to come charging back. A car was driving by and managed to spook the mother bear. Not long after, the RCMP arrived and shot the mother bear – leaving her three cubs orphaned.  The real tragedy though, is not just this incident that cost this mother bear her life, but her history. This particular mother bear and her cubs were well known in the community of Anmore. They would often be seen in people’s backyards, and cruising down the streets – eating the garbage so carelessly left out for her and her cubs. Bears are motivated by food – from the time they come out of hibernation till the time they go in – it is all about eating as much food as possible. The easier the food is to find, the better it is, and in Anmore there was a buffet of easy food to feed her and her cubs.  These bears would have never been so close to people and their pets if they had not been eating garbage that morning.

The three brothers, now orphaned, took refuge in a tree, unsure of what their future would be. Conservation Officer James Kelly located the cubs in their tree, and him and the other officers on the scene sedated the cubs for transport to Critter Care. All three cubs weighed in at 39lbs. Conservation Officer Cody Ambrose named one of the cubs Kody, and an RCMP officer named the second cub Karsten, the third cub , a little brown one, was named Keeton by Critter Care staff. All three cubs were scared and desperately huddled together. They just wanted to be with each other.

During their first day at Critter care, the cubs mainly slept in one big bear pile. By the next day they were exploring more, and by the third day they were eating and starting to play. They were then introduced to our other bear Rascal and allowed into the main enclosure. It took the bears a couple of days to get used to each other, but they were soon playing and doing bear things as a gang of four. The bond between the ‘Anmore triplets’ as they are referred to, is strong. The brothers always have to know where the other is, and can be heard calling to each other if one is in another den box or is hiding.  Kody is the goofy one – always being clumsy and cute, and the first to make new friends, Keeton is always the first to find the food, and Karsten is the wise one – always watching out for danger.  In the spring all three cubs will be returned to the wild – far away from humans and their garbage.

As a result of the August 8th incident, Buntzen Lake installed bear proof dumpsters. The city of Anmore has changed its garbage laws, and has voted to take steps to become a bear aware community -hopefully saving the lives of many other bears.

SHADE – Port Coquitlam

No one is quite sure how Shade got separated from his mom and sibling. On the morning of August 23 Shade was spotted just resting in the shade not that far from the highway with no mom in sight. An RCMP officer kept watch over the cub as a Conservation Officer headed out to the area. The cub seemed very relaxed and content to just watch what was going on from his nice shady spot. Once the conservation officer arrived he sedated Shade, who decided to climb a tree and fall asleep in it. So with the help of a very tall ladder, Shade was taken out of the tree and carried to the culvert trap for transport to Critter Care. Conservation Officer Denny, who brought him in, named the little male cub Shade, because of the cub’s love of lounging in the shade.

Shade weighed in at just 32lbs. He is smaller than the other four bears currently at Critter Care, but we know he will catch up soon. After spending a few days in isolation, Shade was moved into the enclosure with Rascal, Kody, Keeton, and Karsten. When he was first introduced, Kody and then Karsten went over to say hi, but Shade didn’t want anything to do with them. Shade is still unsure of his four big brothers, but in time they will become the best of friends. For now he mainly stays in his part of the enclosure, or he can be found living up to his name – lounging in the shadiest part of the enclosure just watching the other bears.

ROSE, KIRA, and KAYMONA – Coquitlam

On the morning of October 12 a mother bear and her three cubs were attracted to an unsecured dumpster near a school. While eating garbage two of the cubs became trapped in the dumpster and began to cry. Conservation Officers arrived on the scene and quickly located and sedated mom and one cub. Once mom and one of the cubs were in a trap they were able to sedate the two cubs in the dumpster. The decision was made to euthanize the mom, as she had been getting into peoples garbage for the last month, and bring all three cubs to Critter Care.

The triplets, all girls, arrived at Critter Care still under sedation. All three were given full exams and were found to be in excellent condition. Once awake the girls began to test the cage to see if they could get out, and once that failed, bawled at the top of their lungs for their mother. Mom would not be coming though.

After 48hours in isolation, the sisters, named Kira, Rose, and Kaymona, were allowed into the main bear enclosure of our second bear pen. Kira, Rose, and Kaymona always hide when they hear their caretakers coming, which is exactly what we want them to do. They now share their enclosure with two other bears – Sabbath from North Vancouver, and Jeanette from Whistler. The triplets are still getting to know their new den mates, and are still settling into their new temporary home. In the next 6 weeks the girls will begin to hibernate for the winter, and then in the spring they will be released back into the wild.
 

SABBATH – North Vancouver

Sabbath arrived on the evening of October 16. Earlier in the day a bear was reported near the waterfront in North Vancouver. When Conservation Officer Dave Cox arrived on the scene, he did not expect to find a tiny bear cub tipping over trashcans in search of food. After a quick sweep of the area determined there was no mother bear around, he quickly captured the little bear and placed him in a kennel. Sabbath was on his way to Critter Care.

Sabbath weighed in at only 34lbs. He would have not survived the winter by himself. However, where Sabbath was lacking in size, he made up for in attitude. When bear caretaker Angela Fontana tried to give little Sabbath food for the first time, he barely let her put it down before he stated to eat everything in sight. Sabbath now had what he desperately needed, lots of good food and a nice warm place to sleep. 

After four days in isolation, Sabbath was allowed into the main enclosure with the Coquitlam triplets, Kira, Rose, and Kaymona. Even though the girls were three times the size of Sabbath, he quickly asserted himself and had the girls hiding from him.

Sabbath has grown quite a bit in his short time with us. He still has a bit of catching up to do, but he will hibernate with his new friends before being released in the spring.

JEANETTE – Whistler

Jeanette is the daughter of Whsitler's iconic bear Jeanie. Jeanie lived for the past 20 years on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, but she had a bad habit of often seeking food in Whistler Village. Over the years Conservation Officers were able to manage Jeanie and her bad habit. However with the bad food year, and Jeanie's increasing age she was driven off her normal feeding areas by younger bears and forced to look to the village for food. The taste for human garbage would be Jeanie's downfall. On the evening of October 20, after two weeks of break-ins to various restaurants and a number of encounters in the village, Jeanie was trapped and euthanized by Conservation Officers and Jeanette was brought to Critter Care.

Jeanette weighed in at 59lbs and was in excellent condition. She settled quietly in her shed for the night, but the next morning she spent an hour desperately trying to find a way out of the enclosure. When that failed, Jeanette decided to bawl at the top of her lungs. Normally this would get mom to come running, but mom would not be coming this time. Jeanette would stop crying and investigate her new home, but then she realized there were other bears just beyond the fence. Whenever Jeanette saw the other bears she would start crying again and look longingly at them. Knowing that Jeanette desperately wanted to be in with the other bears we let her in earlier then was planned.

Jeanette quickly made friends with the Coquitlam girls – Kira, Rose, and Kaymona, but is still very timid around little Sabbath. She is settling into her new temporary home.  Jeanette will stay at Critter Care until her eventually release in the spring.

MAX –Squamish

Max arrived at Critter Care on the evening of November 4, as a feisty furball in a trap. He had been wandering around on his own for the past two months, finding food wherever he could. Max was never seen with a mother bear so it is unknown how he lost her.  He weighed in at a healthy 60lbs, and was named by Critter Care’s executive director Gail Martin.
Max spent the first few days at Critter Care in isolation, where he quickly settled into his new surroundings, but never lost the attitude.  He is now sharing the enclosure with Rose, Kira, Kaymona, Jeanette, Sabbath, and Simon.  Our second and third bear enclosures are attached so we have opened them up for the bears to move freely between the two sides.
Max is still not sure of all these new bears. He insist that he doesn’t need any friends and is fine on his own, but we know better. Eventually they will settle down and begin playing, eating, and sleeping together.  Max will hibernate here at Critter Care and then be released in the Spring.

SIMON – Burnaby

Simon arrived on November 5 from the Simon Fraser University campus. Critter Care began receiving many calls about this little bear on November 4, but he had been scrounging for food on campus for the past two weeks. His favorite thing to eat was everyone’s Jack-O-Lanterns. On November 5, Conservation Officers were finally able to capture the little guy and brought him to Critter Care. Simon weighed in at 40lbs, and it is believed he was orphaned after his mother was hit by a car. His rescuers at Simon Fraser University named the little bear Simon.
After spending a few days in our third bear enclosure, which is connected to our second bear enclosure, the door separating the two enclosures was opened allowing Simon to interact with Rose, Kira, Kaymona, Sabbath, Jeanette, and Max. Simon still mainly sticks to his side of the enclosure, but is tolerant of the other bears just a bit unsure of most of them. Simon is comfortable with the mellow Kira and Rose, but petrified of the more dominant Jeanette, and he dutifully avoids the unsociable Max. All of this will eventually pass though; cubs always work it out and become comfortable with each other.
Simon will spend the winter at Critter Care – hibernating with the other bears before being released in the spring.

KALA - Chilliwack

Kala arrived on the evening of November 9 from Chilliwack after her mother was hit by a car. On the morning of November 9 Kala’s mother was struck and killed by a car. Kala climbed the nearest tree and stayed there; no doubt wondering why her mother was not moving. Conservation Officers arrived later that day and were able to capture Kala and transported her to Critter Care. Kala weighed in at a healthy 55lbs, and had a minor injury on her paw.
The first few days Kala spent in her shed sleeping. She seemed very depressed and had very sad eyes. Kala knew that her mother was dead and she was missing her. Now that Kala has been moved into the isolation section of the bear enclosure where she can see the other bears she is much calmer and is settling down.  Her paw is healing and Kala is no longer walking stiffly on it. A week after her arrival Kala is ready to move in with Max, Simon, Jeanette, Sabbath, Kira, Rose, and Kaymona, and with Kala’s sweet nature she will make fast friends.

Apples – West Vancouver

Apples arrived on November 14, weighing 27lbs, from West Vancouver. For a few days Apples was spotted eating the late apples on apple trees in a West Vancouver neighborhood. Concerned residents and members of the North Shore Black Bear Society kept a close eye out for the little bear in hopes to capture him. The first time Conservation Officers tried to catch the little guy, he took off as soon as the Officer arrived. The next day however, Conservation Officers were able to capture Apples and he was on his way to Critter Care, those who helped rescue Apples gave him his name.
Apples arrived - as most orphaned cubs who have been living on their own do - full of attitude! It didn’t take long for Apples to settle down. How could he resist a nice warm place to sleep, and lots of food to fill his little belly?
After a week in one of our smaller enclosures, Apples was ready to move into a bear enclosure with Simon, a cub from Burnaby. The two boys are still shy of each other and spend most of their time in separate dens. Slowly but surely the two boys are getting to know each other, and it won’t be long before they become the best of friends.  Apples will not hibernate this winter, instead he will continue to eat and grow.

Mick – North Vancouver

Mick arrived in the late afternoon on November 24 from North Vancouver. Concerned residents and members of the North Shore Black Bear Society had been working weeks to locate Mick and have the Conservation Officers bring him to Critter Care. Mick’s capture was a difficult one and this 19lb bear cub had the odds stacked against him.
When Mick arrived at Critter Care he had been oversedated, suffered from a fall out of a tree during his capture, and was hypothermic. Staff quickly rushed to get him warm, and once his temperature came up they could give him much needed fluids. Mick was under constant watch, bears are tough guys and can usually pull through, but it would not be the case for Mick.
Eight hours after coming in Mick lost his fight to live. Senior Animal Care Supervisor Angela Fontana checked on Mick at midnight and noticed that he was not doing well. She put him on oxygen and made sure that the electric blanket was snugly wrapped around him. A few minutes later Mick would pass on.
Executive Director Gail Martin has a saying "the ones we lose are the ones we love the most". This has perhaps never rung more true. The only consolation was that Mick, was warm, safe, and not alone. Angela had little Mick on her lap, and quietly whispered to him of the wonderful place he was going – the great big forest in the sky – and how he would never be hungry, he would always be warm, have other bears to play with and do bear things with, and how he would always be safe and loved.

Corky – Sechelt

Corky is our sixteenth bear and arrived from Sechelt on November 25, weighing in at 45lbs. Corky and another orphaned cub had been seen wandering around, with no mother in search of food. Conservation Officer Murray Smith was able to trap Corky. However with bad weather preventing the ferries from running, Corky spent two more days in Seachelt before finally arriving at Critter Care.
Corky was in good condition, but small and feisty. He quickly devoured all the food given him and his displeasure at having us pesky humans near. After a few days in isolation Corky was moved into our fawn pen that is now serving as our fourth bear enclosure. Corky shares his pen with another orphaned bear named Tim. Corky is happily eating all the food in sight, showing his absolute dislike of us, and bossing around Tim.

Tim – Hope

Tim arrived from Hope on the evening of November 26 weighing 45lbs. Tim was orphaned after his mom and sibling were hit by a train. Tim would spend the next few weeks wondering around the Hope area before taking up residence near a group of houses. The first time Conservation Officers showed up to try and catch the cub, he was already gone and they were unable to follow his footprints in the bush. A few days later Conservation Officer Cody Ambrose went out to try and catch Tim, but as soon as Cody pulled up Tim took off. The next day Cody went back and was finally able to capture Tim.
It didn’t take long for Tim to settle in to his new home at Critter Care. With all this good food how could he resist? He now shares the large enclosure with Corky from Seachlet. Tim is very wary of Corky and prefers to stay in his den out of Corky’s way.

Charlie – Sechelt

With Charlie’s arrival on November 30 a new record for bear cubs has been set. Charlie is bear number eighteen on the year! Charlie weighed in at 34lbs. When he arrived at the centre Charlie was heavily sedated and ice cold. This is not a good combination.  Staff quickly rushed to warm Charlie up, and he was placed on oxygen to help him recover from the sedation. Once warm enough, Charlie was also given IV fluids. Five hours later Charlie was up and about and happily drank an electrolyte solution.  
The next day, with Charlie eating, drinking, and maintaining his temperature he was moved from a kennel into a nice warm shed. It is believed that Charlie is Corky’s brother as the two cubs had been seen together around Sechelt. Charlie is a lot sweeter (and cuter, but don’t tell Corky that!) than his brother. Eventually Charlie will move into the enclosure with Corky and Tim. For now, however, Charlie will stay in his small enclosure until he is strong enough to join the others. We are sure that if Corky and Charlie are brothers they will be happy to see each other, and if they aren’t related then we are sure Charlie will be happy to have bear friends.