0:01
It's winter in North America, and in small cozy dens from Mexico to Alaska, black bear mothers are giving birth to new letters of Cubs.
0:17
Cubs begin their lives weighing around 1 LB.
0:21
But in just 18 months, these babies will weigh over 100.
0:27
Sadly, many of the parents of these cubs will be killed from human related causes.
0:32
Adult bears are often struck by vehicles or shot by hunters, and cubs like these are left behind to survive on their own.
0:42
Today we're at the renowned Killam Bear Center in New Hampshire, a sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of orphan bear cubs.
0:53
Ethan Killam is the primary caretaker, and today he's giving us a tour of this remarkable facility.
1:00
So all of this is the habitat for the bear Cubs?
1:04
Yeah.
1:04
So this is a 10 acre forested enclosure.
1:08
Look, there's actually a little cub.
1:12
Yeah.
1:12
Oh, my God, That is a year old black bear cub.
1:16
Yeah, that's one of our 16.
1:19
Do they recognize you?
1:20
Yeah.
1:21
Black bears have the ability to differentiate between individuals, both bears and humans.
1:29
Since 1993, the Kill and Bear Center has rescued hundreds of orphaned cubs.
1:35
Young bears receive important health treatments and rehabilitation, and then all of them are released back into the wild where they belong.
1:43
Over the years, Ethan has had a window into the lives of these animals like few people ever have.
1:49
They come to trust me just because in my giving them care over a long term, they get used to me and they know me as a entity that's not going to do them harm.
2:03
So if a young bear of, say, 5 lbs is out in the woods alone, it would be pretty frightened and scared, and I would probably just climb a tree.
2:14
Me being around is providing the security that their mother would provide so they don't have to worry about predators and they can spend a lot more time experiencing the world and getting to know it free from fear.
2:31
That's beautiful.
2:32
Here.
2:33
Can you show us some more?
2:34
Yeah, all right.
2:38
Ethan leads us to an enclosure where some of their littlest guests learn and grow in a warm, safe space.
2:44
This is also where some of their most critical cases come to recover.
2:53
If you look into the corner, you can see our newest arrival.
2:58
Oh, I see the fur.
2:59
I can't see the face, but I can see the Yeah, she's really well tucked in there.
3:03
He's basically what we would consider a starving yearling.
3:08
She probably lost her mom last fall and she may have hibernated, but she's reached a critical weight.
3:15
So what happens next?
3:16
We'll basically just fatten her up and give her good nutrition, make sure she's of a weight where she can have a good chance when she's back in the wild.
3:27
Ethan allows me to serve our little orphan cub a high caloric meal of applesauce, oatmeal, milk and vitamins.
3:38
I know you've saved hundreds of bears, and this is something you do all the time.
3:42
You ever become personally attached to them?
3:45
Yeah.
3:45
Bears are very charismatic creatures.
3:47
It's easy to see the best in us and them.
3:50
They're kind and charismatic and intelligent and to have personalities and it's really easy to get connected with them.
3:58
Yeah, they can tell you love what you do.
4:01
This little cub is getting stronger every day, and Ethan is hopeful she'll make a full recovery.
4:07
Bear Cubs rarely stay at the Center for more than a year.
4:11
The release back to the wild can be bittersweet with any parent.
4:15
You're releasing them out into a world that's full of uncertainties that you can't control.
4:21
Black bears face a lot of uphill adversity, so it's hard seeing them have to go out in the world where they have to face that.
4:28
But it's a joyous day because you're sending them out to be back where they should be, which is with a bear society.
4:35
So they'll be in the company of bears.
4:37
They'll get to be what they are meant to be, which is not in a cage and part of a bigger community.
4:45
Bears ready for release are transported to protected areas thanks to a big assist from the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game.
4:52
I feel great about this.
4:53
A lot of these cubs I was there for when they were brought in.
4:57
And this is where it all comes full circle.
4:59
You know, these bear were given a second chance and now they're going to get to live the rest of their lives where they should be.
