DENVER (KDVR) — After months of rehabilitation, three orphaned bear cubs were released in Jefferson County on Monday.
The three cubs were released in a “secluded bear habitat” in Jefferson County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said, and once the cage doors opened they all ran up the mountain.
One of the bears was found in a homeowner’s yard in late June. CPW said in a post on X that the homeowner knew it was too early in the year for bear cubs to be on their own, so she called CPW.
A wildlife officer responded and set up a live trap with a “special concoction of treats” including peanut butter, honey, caramel and eggs. Once the bear was in the cage, it was taken to a rehab facility in Del Norte.
-
Wildlife officers responded to a property in Jefferson County in late June 2024 to capture an orphaned bear cub. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers brought an orphaned bear cub found on a property in Jefferson County to a rehab facility in Del Norte. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
“Staff go through great pains to make sure bears don’t see or interact with humans to keep them as wild as possible. We don’t want rehabbed bears associating humans with food,” CPW said.
On Monday, CPW released that cub, along with two other orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs, into the wild so they have time to build dens for hibernation.
-
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. Once the cage doors opened, the bears ran up the mountain. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. Once the cage doors opened, the bears ran up the mountain. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife) -
Wildlife officers released three orphaned, rehabbed bear cubs in Jefferson County Monday so they have time to build dens for hibernation. (Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
Once the cage doors opened, the bear cubs can be seen running into the wild in a video posted by CPW.
“It’s a great, full circle moment which can only happen thanks to the officers, rehabbers, and the landowner who gave us a call,” CPW said.
If you spot a bear near your home, you can call your local CPW region or submit a form online.
