In the quiet forests of New York’s Catskills, a group of orphaned bear cubs is getting a second chance at life, thanks to a small but determined wildlife rescue center. This winter and spring, Friends of the Feathered & Furry Wildlife Center (FFF) in Hunter, New York has taken in eight cubs—each one found starving, alone, and without a mother.
“They wouldn’t have made it,” said co-founder David Loverde in an interview with FOX Weather. “It’s a miracle they survived.”
Orphaned Bear Cubs Found Alone, Frail, and Freezing in the Snow
The most recent rescue happened in mid-March on the Madison Square ski trail at Hunter Mountain Resort. A young black bear, believed to have survived the brutal winter alone, was discovered by resort employees.
Environmental Conservation officers contacted the FFF Wildlife Center immediately. When Loverde arrived, he was able to carry the weak cub out of the woods with his bare hands.
“If that bear was with its mother, it would be 40-50 pounds,” he said. “Instead, he was just 15. He could barely walk.”
The cub’s body had burned through fat reserves trying to survive the cold. Bears typically lose a third of their body weight in winter—but this little one had almost nothing to spare.
He was too frail to even eat solid food. Volunteers nursed him with baby formula and puréed meals until he was strong enough to transition to solids.
Healing Orphaned Bear Cubs and Preparing Them for the Wild
Now tipping the scales at 21 pounds, the cub is growing stronger every day. He spends his time in a quiet outdoor enclosure, The young bear was too malnourished to digest solid food. Volunteers at the center gently nourished him with baby food and formula, slowly helping him regain strength.
Now up to 21 pounds, the cub is learning how to be a bear again. He spends his days exploring an outdoor enclosure—his first taste of what life in the wild might one day feel like.
In past years, FFF typically took in three orphaned bear cubs per season. This year, they’ve already rescued eight.
“Bears lose about a third of their weight during winter,” Loverde said. “Without their mothers, they don’t stand a chance.”
Community-Powered Conservation
As the only facility in New York currently rehabilitating black bears, Friends of the Feathered & Furry Wildlife Center is stretched thin. The nonprofit relies on a dedicated team of volunteers to continue its lifesaving work.
“These animals didn’t choose to be orphaned,” said Loverde. “We’re just trying to give them a second chance.”
Thanks to that quiet, tireless effort, these young bears will soon be strong enough to return to the wild—where they belong.
