BEAR WON’T SURVIVE WINTER WITHOUT HELP: BIOLOGIST

A wildlife biologist says a young injured black bear that has been wandering alone west of Calgary for weeks has not built up enough body fat or grown a thick enough fur undercoat to survive the winter without help. The small bruin was spotted hobbling in a field in late September with an apparent injury to one of its back legs. That prompted calls for the Alberta government to allow a wildlife rehabili- tation charity to intervene. The province has said the animal should be left alone and has suggested it could heal while it hibernates. More than 6,700 people have signed an online petition urging the government to allow the bear to be treated. Biologist Lisa Dahlseide says the bear has been able to move over greater distances recently, which “shows that he’s healing.”