Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center receives first baby black bear of 2021

UPDATED 4/19

ROANOKE, Va. (WHSV) — A female baby American black bear weighing in at only 3.3 pounds was temporarily under the care of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke before being transferred to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro.

The Wildlife Center of Roanoke received the baby bear on Friday, April 16, after she was found eating goat feed in Floyd County, Va. Officials say they kept a close eye on the cub for hours, but the mother never returned.

With cooler nighttime temperatures, the wildlife center said officials had no choice but to take the bear in.

The baby bear was transferred to the Wildlife Center of Virginia on Friday evening. Officials believe it is abnormal for a bear cub of this size to be out of the den this early in the season.

Since the cub’s transfer to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the veterinary team has found her to be “in pretty good shape.”

Officials say if all goes well, this cub will be at the Wildlife Center of Virginia until she is ready to fend for herself in the wild, which is estimated to be about a year.

For more details on the cub and to see additional photos, click here.