A bear cub pulled from a tree in Asheville, North Carolina last spring by individuals seeking selfies has been successfully released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC).
The female cub, now fitted with a GPS tracking collar, was released in a remote area of western North Carolina, WRAL reported. Data from the collar shows she is adapting well to her natural habitat and is expected to find a den for the winter.
The incident, which drew international attention, occurred in April 2024 when a group pulled the cub from a tree at an Asheville apartment complex and took photos. NCWRC staff rescued the cub shortly after from a nearby retention pond, though a likely sibling seen fleeing was never located.
"People who try to capture or handle a cub are not only risking the cub's safety, but their own if the mother bear is nearby, as she may try to defend her cubs," Colleen Olfenbuttel, NCWRC biologist told WRAL. "By trying to capture a bear cub, you may cause it to become orphaned, injured or both."
Residents are urged to call the their local wildlife helpline if they encounter a bear cub they believe to be orphaned.
"Bear cubs are resilient animals, and it looks like this cub won't be an exception," said Ashley Hobbs, NCWRC Bearwise coordinator.
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