Injured bear recuperating at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A first-year bear cub hit by a car on Pioneer Trail on August 21, 2018 is recuperating at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC).

The bear, named Pioneer by LTWC, was knocked out after being hit, so those tending to him were concerned at first, especially when he wasn't eating. "He is doing really well," said Denise Upton, LTWC animal care director. "He is acting like a bear and eating now."

The cub was 42 pounds when he arrived and is now healthy.

Toogee Sielsch, a local bear expert with the BEAR League, had been watching the bear for two months after the cub was left behind by his mother and had over 100 videos of the bear. Dogs had apparently scared off the mother and they became separated. He helped LTWC co-founder Tom Milham get the cub to the Meyers facility.

"This may be his actual best chance for survival into the future," said Sielsch. A new cub wintering by themselves need their mother's guidance that first winter, and there was concern for this cub being without his mother.

"We'll keep him through the winter, gets him in a better place," said Upton.

"Bears are getting hit by cars way too often - please pass the word to slow down - especially at night. Be aware that there are adult bears and cubs on our roads here in Tahoe on a frequent basis," said Milham.

There are now three cubs at LTWC, all the same age.

The other two came from Mariposa on August 12 after their mother was hit by a car. They were only ten pounds each upon arrival and it is unknown if the bears were small because of being moved by the recent fire in the area, or why they were more than half the size of a normal cub their age.

"They are getting fat and sassy," said Upton. "I've never seen bears eat so fast in my life."

Donations are always accepted to help feed and keep the bears. Pioneer eats a lot of fish thanks to local fishermen and loves to pick through 4-5 pounds of fruit a day, especially cherries. Mari and Posa are on formula and some food. To donate: https://ltwc.org/support/donate/.