Orphaned bear cub springs from truck during Colorado release. See the ‘leap of faith’
A pair of orphaned bear cubs leaped eagerly into their new life in their original home in Colorado’s wilderness, photos show.
One of the cubs literally leaps out from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife truck during a release, photos show. The agency’s southwest region shared the photos on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Officials called it a “leap of faith.” It appears from the photo the cub landed on a snowy cushion before taking off into the wilderness.
“More orphaned bear cubs jumping into your timeline today from their successful release in the North Fork,” officials said in the Dec. 11 post.
The agency released the orphaned cubs last week, after their mother was hit by a car in July. The cubs spent the summer and fall at CPW’s Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte.
“After a summer of bulking up and socializing with the other cubs at the facility, the cubs reached 80 pounds and were ready to den,” officials said. “So, last week we loaded them up and drove them back to their original home habitat and let them go pick their own den for winter.”
Photos show one of the cubs appearing to hesitate before making the jump.
“GPS data indicates the cubs will pick their own den within six days of release,” officials said. “They’ve got enough fat to get through winter and have a head start when they come out of dens next spring. The goal is the cubs become reproducing members of our bear population and avoid conflict.”
North Fork is about a 60-mile drive southwest from Denver.
This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Orphaned bear cub springs from truck during Colorado release. See the ‘leap of faith’."
