WHYCOCOMAGH, N.S. — An orphaned black bear cub found wandering alone and pneumonia-stricken on a Cape Breton highway has been nursed back to health.
The one-year-old cub, dubbed "Little Bear," was found near Whycocomagh, N.S., last May, weighing only seven pounds.
Two local men brought it into Two Rivers Wildlife Park, and although the sub is undersize, it has made a full recovery, park employee Mike Timmons said Monday.
It has outgrown its 150-square-metre pen, but Timmons said it can't be released to the wild: "He's just too used to humans."
The non-profit, private park — which also has cougar, moose, skunks and other wildlife — already has two adult bears, but Little Bear can't share their quarters, said Timmons.
"They're a pair, right? So that wouldn't go very good with the big male," said Timmons.
Staff at the park are now fundraising for a much larger pen, complete with pool.
They hope to raise $40,000, and have organized various fundraisers, including a firehall dance, and are seeking donations.
Although other staff members have reportedly said they were fearful they might have to put Little Bear down if they can't build him a proper cage, Timmons said Monday that's "definitely not going to happen."
"He's here no matter what," he said.
