A Black Bear's Journey Home

YouNewsTV™

Story Published: May 26, 2005 at 3:27 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:57 AM PDT

By Mary Nam

Watch the story

KING COUNTY - For the folks at PAWS, Thursday's sunny weather was icing on the cake for special homecoming: a black bear's journey home.

The orphan black bear cub was found in the hills of the Cedar River Watershed. He was malnourished and dirty, weighing just 21 pounds.

After six months of rehab, the underweight cub is strong enough to go home; he gained 80-pounds during his stay at PAWS.

The cub is cute, but to the staff, he is known simply as #44552. PAWS officials say successful rehab means minimal human contact. Caretakers taught the cub to avoid humans to survive in the wild.

To increase his chances, the cub will be released where he was found: more than 20 miles deep in the Seattle watershed.

"The further we up in the hills we can take it, the better chance it has of making it," says Bruce Richards with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We're a long ways from where he probably grew up, but it's the same drainage and that makes it right. He won't be harassed in here and he'll have a chance to make it."

When the metal gate goes up, the cub slowly crawls out. He's still woozy from the tranquilizer but he's stumbling in the right direction: away from people.

He never looks back. And that, wildlife officials say, is the very best kind of thank you.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

KOMO Weather

Current Temp 78 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Wind : From the Southwest at 12 MPH

Humidity : 37 %

Pressure : 29.98" (1015.4 mb)

More Weather

Traffic

Traffic Alert

North Cascades Highway (S.R. 20) is closed due to high avalanche danger through the weekend. Crews will return on Monday to assess road conditions. The state DOT advises drivers to check mountain pass conditions for all passes before leaving this weekend.

More Traffic