Idaho

Black Bear

Rehab, Inc.

(IBBR)

Idaho Black Bear Rehab, Inc.

6097 Arney Lane

Garden City, Idaho 83714, USA

www.bearrehab.org

Mission To give all orphaned cubs a second chance at a life of freedom in the wild by:

• Rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing orphaned cubs whenever possible.

• Instituting bear rehabilitation programs and training rehabilitators in states where the option currently does not exist.

• Working with state wildlife agencies to establish black bear rehabilitation as a standard part of their wildlife management policies.

• Educating the public about black bear rehabilitation and our shared responsibility to protect wild bears and their habitat.

Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation,Inc. is a not-for-profit charity with 501 (c)(3) status. All contributions are tax-deductible.

IBBR depends on the generosity of the general public and the local community.

Won’t you please consider a cash donation to help with the care of the cubs?

Visit www.bearrehab.org, or mail your donation to IBBR, 6097 Arney Lane, Garden City, Idaho 83714.

How You Can Help

Orphaned Cubs

Many bears cubs become orphans when their mothers are killed during spring bear hunts. Others have become injured in accidents or abandoned by their mothers for unknown reasons. Without intervention, many of these bears face certain death from starvation, predation, or euthanasia.

Rehabilitation of bears can never take a “one size fits all” approach. Besides providing for a variety of physical needs, such as those facing newborns, malnourished, injured, or cubs fighting disease, support for emotional trauma, or inquisitive and active minds, care must be customized for each and every cub. IBBR is well known for adapting rehabilitation techniques and facilities to fit the needs of individual bears.

Rehabilitation of bear cubs has a positive impact on the public perception of wildlife management practices. Stories of individual cubs can be used to build public understanding and support for biodiversity, habitat protection and positive human-wildlife interactions. Methodology used for American black bear rehabilitation and release can be applied and adapted to programs working with threatened and endangered species of bear around the world.

Common Myths About Bears and Bear Rehabilitation Programs MYTH Orphaned black bear cubs can’t be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, as they will die, or become “problem bears.”

Orphaned and injured cubs can be successfully rehabilitated and released. IBBR has successfully rehabilitated and released the majority of cubs which have entered the rehabilitation program. To date, over 97% of IBBR cubs are considered successfully released, as they sustained themselves and did not become involved in a “nuisance” situation during the first month post release.

MYTH A “successful release” of a rehabilitated bear cub is a cub which is never a “problem bear,” and never gets hunted.

Research has shown that approximately 2% of the wild bear populations may become involved in “problem” situations with humans. All bears, including cubs from a rehabilitation program, face the same impacts from human activity, including hunting. Best practice standards have defined the successful release of a rehabilitated cub as a bear which demonstrated the ability to sustain itself in the natural environment for > 1 month. In addition, a successful release has been defined as a bear cub which has not been involved in a “nuisance” situation for 1 month to 1 year post release (varies per wildlife agency).

MYTH Orphaned black bear cubs in a rehabilitation program will become habituated to humans. Usually when this term is used it is meant to imply that the bears are attracted to humans for food and other needs.

“Habituation is a waning response to a repeated, neutral stimulus. (Thorpe 1956, Whitaker and Knight 1998, Gilbert 1989, Smith et al. 2005. Herrero et al. 2005, Stringham 2009). Bears that are fully habituated to humans ignore them. (Whitaker and Knight 1998).” As cited by Rogers et al., Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(2): 173-176, Fall 2011. Thus, habituated bears would not necessarily be attracted to humans for food and other needs.

The Organization

Idaho Black Bear Rehab, Inc. (IBBR) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to saving orphaned and injured bear cubs by utilizing proven scientific methods for successful rehabilitation and release back into the wild.

IBBR provides high standards of cub care, veterinary treatment, and data monitored follow-up after release. IBBR does not rehabilitate bears to be placed in zoos, sanctuaries, or research facilities.

History In 1989, very few states were involved in bear cub rehabilitation, and fewer still had programs designed to prepare bears for life in the wild. For over twenty years, working closely with state, national, and worldwide bear experts, Idaho Black Bear Rehab, Inc. (IBBR) has developed a successful rehabilitation program for the American Black Bear. (Ursus Americanus).

All Rights Reserved

MYTH Habituated bears = problem bears.

“Habituation is a normal response to people in bears’ human-inhabited environments, and habituated bears have not shown themselves to be a greater threat to public safety than non- habituated bears.” (Rogers, Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(2): 287-295, Fall 2011).

MYTH Bears that wander into inhabited areas such as campsites, or towns are dangerous. It is often necessary, if unfortunate to kill these bears.

In many locations it is nearly impossible for a bear to make its daily excursions looking for food without walking through someone’s property, or a campground in the mountains. A bear in an inhabited area could be simply passing through. If this behavior is reoccurring, this generally means something is attracting the bear. “Food conditioning occurs when a bear learns that certain locations, situations, or humans, may provide food.” (Rogers, Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(2): 287-295, Fall 2011). Remove the attraction and the bear will most likely go away. It may also be possible to successfully relocate the bear.

MYTH The size or location of the rehabilitation facility is directly correlated to the successful release of orphaned or injured black bear cubs.

Rehabilitation programs should be “outcome” focused. Factors shown to be critical to the success of black bear rehabilitation include: the opportunity to socialize with other cubs during rehabilitation, good body weight and condition at release, release into areas which include sustainable bear habitat and low potential for human interaction during the first 30 days post release.

MYTH Good candidates for a bear rehabilitation program must exhibit a “fear” of humans.

“The expression of natural behaviors, such as fear or avoidance of people, will vary depending on the age of the cub and its experience prior to arriving at the facility. In the case of very young cubs that have not traveled with their mothers outside the maternal den, the expression of fear or avoidance, will be absent... Reducing the level of human contact, after weaning may be sufficient for most to be released.” (2007 International Workshop on the Rehabilitation, Release, and Monitoring of Orphaned Bear Cubs).