B.C. couple saves bear cub found clinging to dead mother
TOFINO, B.C. John Forde stood silently near the body of a dead female black bear as two little eyes stared at him from a nearby bush.
The bear cub was about the size of a Jack Russell terrier, extremely underweight and very scared.
Forde, who co-owns the Whale Centre in Tofino with his wife Jennifer Steven, had been told about a cub hiding around the body of its dead mother in Ross Pass.
The couple jumped into their boat on May 25, along with a woman from the Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society, for the 45-minute journey to the area.
First, they used binoculars to spot the dead adult bear and saw a bit of movement in its fur. The cub was lying on its mother.
After anchoring the boat, they went in for a closer look. The cub got spooked and ran into a bush before climbing high up a tree.
Forde checked the adult bear but there was no obvious cause of death.
As the sun started to go down, they decided to head back to Tofino. However, Forde and Steven knew they’d be back again for a second try.
Early last Saturday morning they moored the boat farther away and Forde walked quietly to the area.
The cub spotted Forde and took off into the bush, but eventually wandered out and snuggled back into the deceased bear’s neck fur.
Using a jacket, Forde covered the cub and was finally able to grab it.
Tawny Molland, animal care supervisor at the centre, said the male cub is between eight to 12 weeks old. It will stay at the centre for around 18 months before it is released into the wild.
“Every day we are seeing signs of improvement,” she said.
The cub still doesn’t have a name, but Forde has one in mind.
“He was found in Ross Pass, so I am hoping to name him Ross.”