It’s time to look back on 2023! Check our blog between Christmas and New Year’s for a variety of stories and memories of 2023 from the staff and volunteers of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I find myself reflecting upon the incredible journey I have undertaken in my (almost complete) first year as the wildlife rehabilitation supervisor at WCV. This year has been full of challenges, triumphs, and, most importantly, the collective spirit of our community and our shared mission.
Looking back on 2023, what stands out most to me was the journey of a remarkable American Black Bear cub, #23-0681 “Double Lavender,” or as the rehab team calls her, “Little Bear”. Her indomitable spirit has captivated me since her intake, and her recovery from an unexpected abdominal wound was a testament to her incredible resilience and strength.
Double Lavender came in at just 2 kg – smaller than all the cubs admitted this year. During a supervised introduction and cub play session, we noticed she was quieter than usual and was not engaging in normal cub play. Upon a quick physical exam, a dark purple and reddish mark was noted in her umbilical area. We were perplexed by this discovery since she was way too “old” to have an umbilicus infection. We sought the advice of our veterinarians and they confirmed she had an old wound that had begun to mature into an abscess.
Day by day, the diligent efforts of our team and the healing power of nature (and medicine!) worked hand in hand, to nurture this cub back to health. It was a daily battle! But as the cub began to recover, her feisty personality began to shine and she gradually reclaimed the playful nature that defines the spirit of bear cubs. Each tentative step, every curious glance, and the joyous return to climbing structures spoke volumes about the strength this little one had.
Double Lavendar is now thriving and headed for a release this coming spring. Every time I see her, although she’s not so “little” anymore, I remember the challenges we faced during her recovery – the multiple attempts to close her wound that kept reopening, the daily bandage changes that turned into intricate maneuvers (and at times acrobatic schemes) and how we had to come up with ways to make it safe for both cub and humans. But most of all, I’ll remember how rewarding it was when she was fully healed and resumed her normal cub life!
Here’s to another year of rehabilitation, release, and conservation. Thank you for making me part of the WCV community.
– Alex Olvera, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor