This story was originally published by Columbia Insight.
PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Snohomish, Wash., has taken in 13 and counting orphaned black bear cubs so far this year.
The first cub arrived in April and the latest to join the facility arrived on Oct. 13.
“The bears have come into care under a variety of circumstances, including injury, orphaning or separation from their mothers,” Andi Anderson, PAWS senior director of philanthropy and outreach, told Columbia Insight in an email. “The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife coordinates their transfer to PAWS, where our team assesses their health and provides the specialized care and rehabilitation they need.”
It’s a staggering amount of cubs to handle at once, but PAWS has the space. The nonprofit opened an expanded facility in Snohomish in 2024, with space to take on more wildlife in need than it has been previously able to accommodate.
PAWS is the only wildlife rehabilitation facility in Washington permitted to rehabilitate multiple black bear cubs at one time.
“As the bears build up sufficient fat reserves and naturally begin to slow down, we gradually reduce their food to mimic the seasonal decline in resources they would experience in the wild,” said Anderson. “We provide dark, quiet dens with natural bedding and minimize lighting, cleaning and other disturbances as they begin denning. While bears don’t sleep continuously throughout winter, they naturally become less active and spend most of their time resting.”
225 pounds of food per day
Not many details about the cubs or the circumstances of their journey to the rehab center are known, just that they need help.
“Our focus at PAWS is on providing the rehabilitation these bears need to return to the wild, including enrichment activities, minimal human contact and specialized care to help them grow healthy and strong,” said Anderson. “The cubs came to us from different areas across Washington state, and some arrived as siblings. While we initially anticipated releasing five bears this fall, we are now hopeful that seven will be ready and approved for release in the coming weeks.”
PAWS works closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to release the cubs at the right time and place.
“In the meantime, our priority remains providing each bear with the care needed to prepare for a successful return to the wild,” said Anderson.
The bear cubs consume a staggering amount of vegetables and fish, and the facility is having a hard time keeping up.
“Now that we have 13 bears, it will be approximately 225 pounds of food each day—total,” said Anderson. “That varies based on each bear’s need, but it’s a safe average for all 13 bears combined.”
The facility is seeking food donations from the public to help with feeding the crew of orphans.
PAWS is asking specifically for vegetables, including carrots, squash, zucchini, pumpkins, broccoli, sweet peppers, lettuce and cabbage. Salmon and other whole fish are also needed, as long as the fish hasn’t been frozen for longer than six months.
“It is a tremendous amount of food. We are trying to fuel their growth and preparation for release back to the wild, so we appreciate all the support,” PAWS CEO Harrison Edell said in a statement.
PAWS typically takes on four or five bear cubs each year, Anderson said. But caring for 13 cubs is a huge commitment.
“While 13 bears isn’t the most PAWS has cared for at one time, it is among our highest numbers and represents a significant increase in recent years,” said Anderson.
The cubs that won’t be ready for release this fall will stay with the center over the winter hibernation months, to be released in spring if all goes well.
The center accepts monetary donations on its website.
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