Bear cub taken from mother dies
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KROTZ SPRINGS — A Louisiana black bear cub taken from its mother’s nest has died of starvation, wildlife officials reported Wednesday.
The 3-pound male black bear — a threatened species — was found near death Saturday, wrapped in a towel and left under the Atchafalaya River bridge in Krotz Springs, said Maria Davidson, state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist.
Attempts to nurse the cub back to life were unsuccessful.
“It was too late. … Basically, he starved to death,” Davidson said.
Someone had called the Krotz Springs Police Department several times Saturday to discuss handing over the bear cub.
The caller blocked the telephone number and would not provide a name or any other information, possibly fearing punishment because removing a bear cub from a nest is against the law.
“They knew better,” Davidson said. “They called late Saturday and said, ‘It’s under the bridge,’ and hung up.”
Davidson said the cub was suffering from severe dehydration and aspiration pneumonia, a condition mostly likely caused by the inhalation of fluid into the lungs during a failed attempt to bottle-feed the animal.
“At some point, they obviously tried to get him to take a bottle,” Davidson said. “They can suck so fast or fight and fluid gets into the lungs.”
She said the person who called the police reported picking up the 6- to 8-week-old cub after seeing its mother run away.
The caller reported returning two days later to find the cub was still alone.
“I think the first part of that story is true,” Davidson said.
She said someone probably happened upon the mother and cub in the woods, and the startled mother ran away.
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