Skip to content

Bears cubs arrival at Critter Care triggers plea for produce, fish

Two cubs came in hungry on Tuesday and fruit and veggie stocks low
7793387_web1_170721-LAT-bears2

The unexpected arrival of sibling bear cubs at the Critter Care wildlife rehabilitation facility on Tuesday evening has left staff and volunteers scrambling for donations of fruit and vegetables.

With the cubs’ arrival, and the 300 other animals in their care, Critter Care is finding their food stocks running low, said senior care animal supervisor, Angela Fontana.

The cubs arrived at Critter Care on Tuesday evening. The male cried all night for his mom, said Fontana.

“The girl is taking it all in stride. She is much more curious,” she said.

The cubs’ mother was euthanized after getting into garbage and attempts to relocate the family failed, she said. The decision to euthanize was made by the Ministry of Environment.

The bears come from Belcarra Park in Port Moody.

“They only weigh 35 pounds, but they are in good condition,” said Fontana. They haven’t been named yet.

Meanwhile, Critter Care is in urgent need of fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts and uncooked and unseasoned meat, fish and poultry.

On Tuesday, they put out an urgent plea for food donations and by Wednesday morning, supporters of Critter Care were at the gates with food.

On Facebook, one man indicated he was bringing 50 pounds of blueberries, another, a box of raspberries. One woman planned to bring frozen fish. Another person commented that her family was going fishing with an objective to bring some fresh catch to the bears.

“We’ve actually had some of our produce bins empty these past days, so when our interns saw all the produce people had brought, there was a lot of cheering,” she said.

Critter Care also rescued three young beavers from a motor oil-covered ditch in Mission on Monday.

“They were covered in oil that had been dumped there,” she said. The beavers are all cleaned up and only the smallest, the female, is being monitored but should be OK.

“We’d love some corn for those beavers. Beavers love corn,” Fontana added.

But animals aren’t too picky when it comes to fruits and veggies.

“We’ll take everything — apples, berries, pears. Our raccoons love it all,” she said.

Another way to support the work of Critter Care is to register and get pledge sheets for their upcoming Walk on the Wild Side Oct. 1 at Campbell Valley Park.

Critter Care is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven seven days a week for donation drop-offs. Critter Care Wildlife Centre is located at 481 216 Street.

https://www.facebook.com/CritterCareWildlife/videos/1622999017745286/



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
Read more