American Black Bear #25-2408

On June 22, the Center admitted a Black Bear cub from Buchanan, Virginia. The cub had been found alone and in poor condition, with no signs of a mother nearby. After evaluating the situation, staff from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources decided to transport the cub to the Center for an exam.

On admission, the cub was quiet and dull, weighing in at 4.4kg. Veterinary staff performed an exam and found that she was thin, dehydrated, and had several wounds, including an abrasion on her front right paw, a laceration on her lip, and a wound on her back. Bloodwork also revealed the presence of toxic heterophils, a sign of inflammation or infection. Given the cub's poor condition, the team opted not to anesthetize her to take radiographs at that time.

After the exam, the veterinary team placed an IV catheter and started the cub on antibiotics and fluids, then placed her in a quiet, indoor area to rest.

In the following days, the cub began to show significant improvement, starting to eat on her own and becoming more responsive to her surroundings. By June 25, staff noted that the cub was bright, eating well, and actively exploring her enclosure.

On June 26, the cub was sedated so veterinary staff could take radiographs and conduct a more thorough examination of her injuries. The wound on her back was deeper than expected, but the team was able to clean it and suture it closed. The small lip wound had mostly healed on its own. Radiographs did not reveal any internal injuries. The team bandaged the cub's back and toe and started her on anti-inflammatories in addition to antibiotics. They also placed lavender ear tags on both ears, officially designating the cub as "Double Lavender."

If the cub continues to do well, the rehabilitation team plans to move her to the chute of the Large Mammal Isolation enclosure on June 27, where she will begin acclimating to the Center’s other bear cub, #25-1199.