LTWC begins rehabbing first bear cub of the season
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care received its first cub of the season on Memorial Day. This is just two months after the last bear was released.
Weighing-in at 9.8 pounds, the little guy was given a physical by Kevin Willitts. Willitts, who owns Alpine Animal Hospital, is also the veterinarian for the South Shore animal rehab center. Willitts takes blood, checks the bear’s ears and extremities.
The bear was found in Humboldt County. He was rescued because his mom had died.
When the little guy woke up he was fed watermelon, grapes and a special bear formula.
Today he will be placed in a temporary cage until he graduates to the bear cage later in the summer. By that time it’s likely he will have playmates. It’s common for LTWC to rehab several bears in a season.
“More than likely, this cub will be released next January or February, back in the Humboldt area,” Tom Millham, secretary-treasurer with LTWC, told Lake Tahoe News.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Because his mom died this cub will spend the next eight months at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. Photos/LTWC
Kevin Willitts examines the cub that came to LTWC on May 28.
Now thats what I am talking about, Thank you rehab, Thank you Lake Tahoe, Save our Bears,keep up the good work,
Thank You for all you do for Tahoe’s wildlife.
I have been in this town 38 years now and watched you grow.
You do such a wonderful service for our community.
We have brought in birds, pigeon just yesterday even squirrels.
You always take them in with such care.
Keep up the grate work and we love you.
Antonio and Coral D.
Great Center. My wife and I took their volunteer class and loved it- learned so much! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys wildlife and wants the best for them.
Thank you also to Dr. Willitts for all the volunteer work he does.
Thank you Linda and Lonnie for bringing the cub to us all the way from Humboldt, and Dr. Willitts for your expertise! LTWC has a great network of volunteers. The training class was awesome and gave me an appreciation for all the work it takes, especially during the busy next few months. It’s so sad to see orphaned babies, but I do hope little Hoopa has a buddy to grow up with soon.
This story also shows just why the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care needs a newer, larger facility. I hope they can get the property in Meyers and get the new and improved LTWC in gear.
LTWC is a gem for the community. If people really understood the love, care and hard work they offer they’d be tripping over themselves to assure that they are provided with a larger facility. Think what a great tourist attraction it would make as well, with people viewing some animals via videocam and others by peeking in the “back door” of one-way glass without upsetting the animals or accustoming them to humans -after all it’s not a zoo.These critters are being rehabbed to go back where they belong -the wild. More power to LTWC. I hope good things happen to them soon.
How did the cub’s mom die?