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“Bugaboo bears” leave UF Veterinary
Medical Center
May 21, 2007
Contact: Karen Parker, (386) 758-0525 or
Sarah Carey, (352) 392-2213 ext. 5206 for UF VMC information
The two "Bugaboo bears" rescued May 13 from the
Osceola wildfire were taken to a private rehabilitation facility
Friday by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) officials.
The Florida black bear and her cub left the
University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center and were
transported to the facility.
According to Dr. Mark Cunningham, FWC
veterinarian, the bears will remain in rehabilitation until
burns on the sow's paws can heal.
“Once her paws are in good shape, we plan to
release her and the cub back into the wild," Cunningham said.
"It could take about a month for her to heal."
Before leaving the UF Veterinary Medical Center,
the 165-pound sow was sedated and all four paws were treated and
bandaged.
“Her feet are looking good," said Dr. Adrienne
Atkins, a second-year resident, Zoological Medical Service.
"There's no sign of infection, and we have pink, healthy tissue
on all four paws."
Elijah Rooney, a veterinary technician with the
Zoological Medical Service, said, "The mom was a great patient.
She caused us some stress and worry when we first saw those
paws, but she's doing well."
After the bandage change, the bear was placed in
a large cage, which was rolled into a horse trailer. The cub was
placed in a wooden crate and transported in Cunningham's truck.
“The 8-pound cub wasn't very happy during the
trip," Cunningham said. "She cried and whined quite a bit."
The sow created a bit of a stir on the
interstate highway. Once she came out from under the sedation,
she stood up in the cage and watched traffic.
“We got quite a few people to slow down and
stare at her while we were driving," said Scott Johns, area
biologist at the FWC’s Olustee field office. "It was like no one
had ever seen a bear in a horse trailer before!"
When the bears arrived at their new temporary
home, mother and cub were reunited and they patrolled their new
enclosure together.
“This is a great place for them,” Cunningham
said. “The thing I’m most worried about is contact with humans.
Here, the contact will be limited. The sow can heal, and we can
get both bears back to the forest where they belong.” |
