Five orphaned black bear cubs that were part of an experimental fall release in California are now thriving after hibernating naturally in the wild. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported the success on June 8.
- The cubs were released in November 2024 across Northern California, a departure from the typical spring release. - All bears successfully established dens, hibernated, and reemerged healthy this spring, according to GPS collar data.
- The approach, already successful in Nevada and Washington, aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict and rehabilitation costs. Wildlife officials emphasized the bears' resilience and the importance of trusting their natural survival instincts.