Latest news with #ProjectWildlife
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PHOTOS: Abandoned baby bear cub thriving after month of care at Ramona Wildlife Center
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A baby bear that was found alone in the woods in California's central coast this past spring is now thriving after a month of care at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. The group says the black bear cub was found on April 12, 2025, by campers in Los Padres National Forest, and was transported to the Ramona Wildlife Center on April 14 after California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologists could not find its mother. The San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife team is caring for the 2-month-old bear cub, which they say is the youngest black bear cub the organization has ever taken in. A month after arriving weak and underweight, the wildlife care team says he is now stable, playful and thriving thanks to 24/7 care. Rescued otter pup readying for public debut at SeaWorld San Diego 'He was extremely fragile when he arrived,' said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. 'After going several days without nutrition, it was touch-and-go at first. But now, he's active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.' The Humane Society says they expect the cub to need to be cared for until he is about a year old because of his age and condition. Then they hope to return him to the wild. If another cub enters care in California, CDFW might pair them to keep the orphaned cubs wild and reduce their risk of imprinting on humans. According to CDFW, this is only the fourth bear cub this young in the past five years who has come into rehab care in California. Big Bear bald eagle chicks ready to take flight The Humane Society says the bear cub currently receives four enrichment and feeding sessions per day that are made to mimic maternal behaviors and help prepare the cub for life in the wild, with overnight feedings required in his early days to help stabilize him. 'This is a very unusual case,' said Welch. 'We don't often see bears this young without theirmother. It's an honor to care for him, but it's also a significant commitment. We rely entirely on donations to make this kind of specialized care possible.' The San Diego Humane Society says it relies on community contributions to care for wild animals in need, as they don't receive state funding. To donate, volunteer or learn more, visit San Diego Zoo responds to viral video of lethargic polar bear The Ramona Wildlife Center is the only facility in San Diego County permitted to rehabilitate native apex predators like black bears, mountain lions and bobcats. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Severely injured Orange County mountain lion heals, readies for release
A mountain lion that suffered a skull fracture and severe head and eye trauma after being hit by a car in Orange County is getting ready to return to the wild after nearly three months of care. The cub was found on the side of a road on Jan. 15 and was initially treated at a Lake Forest animal hospital. The San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center took over his long-term care and rehabilitation, and calls the journey a "remarkable story of resilience." Aside from the head injuries, the mountain lion also exhibited lameness in his left leg. Treatment included pain management, nutritional support, and around-the-clock monitoring. The cub transitioned to an outdoor enclosure to regain strength and minimize human contact. After 80 days of care, the humane society says the mountain lion is showing signs of readiness to return to the wild as he avoids humans and successfully hunts for food. "We work closely with CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) to determine the best timing for his return to the wild," said Autumn Nelson, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. "Our job here is to set him up for success—to ensure he can fend for himself and stay away from human conflict." The San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife program gives more than 10,000 injured, orphaned and sick wild animals a second chance each year. At the Ramona Campus, San Diego Humane Society specializes in caring for native apex predators and birds of prey, including hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, bears, bobcats and, under special case-by-case authorization, mountain lions.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gray fox rescued from California's Airport Fire set free after rehab
The Airport Fire burned 23,526 acres in Southern California's Santa Ana Mountains in September and October 2024. More than 100 structures were destroyed in the fire. After months of rehabilitation, a gray fox who survived the Airport Fire in Orange County has been released back into the wild, right in time for World Wildlife Day on March 3. The San Diego Humane Society shared video of the March 2 release of the gray fox in Orange County, not far from where he was originally found. The fox was rescued from the fire by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Sept. 20, 2024, and brought to the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Campus for medical treatment. The fox had second- and third-degree burns on all four paws, and needed daily treatment from the Project Wildlife medical team to have any chance of survival. He lost several digits, nails and paw pads. With pain therapy and innovative treatments, including three sessions of donated fluorescent light therapy from local veterinarian Todd Cecil, the fox's wounds eventually healed. The rehab team made sure he had specialized care, enrichment, and a balanced diet. Near the end of his recovery, the gray fox was moved from the indoor hospital to an outdoor enclosure in preparation for release. Remote trail cameras helped staff monitor his health and behavior. Once he was "skillfully climbing and jumping through his habitat," the staff knew he was ready to leave.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gray fox injured in wildfire returned to the California wilderness
RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A gray fox that was injured in the Airport Fire last September returned to the wild after spending five months at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center. According to a news release by the organization, the fox was brought under their care by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Sept. 30, 2024. CDFW officials found the fox with second and third-degree burns on its paw pads. The fox was released in Orange County this past Sunday, not far from where he was originally found during the Airport Fire. The wildfire, which broke out Sept. 9 in the Trabuco Canyon, exploded by thousands of acres overnight and devastated over a hundred homes in both Orange and Riverside Counties. The humane society said the fox had lost several of its digits, nails and paw pads during the fire, and needed daily treatment by the humane society's Project Wildlife medical team to survive. See the photos below. The medical and rehabilitation teams at Project Wildlife monitored him closely to determine if he could adapt to life in the wild again despite his permanent injuries. 'This animal was left defenseless with life-threatening wounds from the Airport Fire,' said Alexis Wohl, the wildlife veterinary manager of the Project Wildlife program. 'His prognosis was guarded for a long time, but in the end, he ultimately overcame his injuries so he could return home.' Part of the rehabilitation efforts included transitioning the fox from the indoor hospital to an outdoor enclosure and watching him regain his physical abilities to climb and jump toward the end of his recovery period, according to the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
