Sheriff deputies rescue 2 newborn bear cubs after mother abandoned them amid extreme weather

By Amanda Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer

Two bear cubs trapped in a flooded culvert were rescued by Ashland Sheriff deputies on Friday.

A property owner in Gingles, Wisconsin, a northern Wisconsin town, discovered the bears and called for backup.

Ashland Sheriff deputies arrived at the culvert, which had been serving as the bear's den throughout the winter, to find the two cubs. With the heavy snowfall in northern Wisconsin throughout the winter and quick melting last week, the den was severely impacted and isolated.

After rescuing the bears, the sheriffs brought the cubs into their squad car in an attempt to warm the cold, wet animals. The sheriffs then realized they could be angering the cub's mother and brought them back out onto safe ground to allow her to gather them, MPR News reported.

The mother bear never returned for her cubs who were then retrieved by Wild Instincts, a professional wildlife rehabilitation center in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, which is more than a two-hour drive from where the cubs were discovered.

According to the center's Facebook page, it isn't uncommon for bears to flee their dens, especially in this situation. "Many first-time moms of many species will leave their babies to save themselves. That is Nature. No judgments. The cubs are safe," a Facebook post read.

Wild Instincts admitted two bear cubs on Saturday after they had been stranded in their flooded den. The shelter will care for the subs until they are released in the wild next fall. (Facebook/Wild Instincts)

At Wild Instincts, the cubs are being bottle fed before transitioning to dishes. Throughout all feedings and checkups, the center will work to avoid over-humanizing the animals. There is no speaking or cuddling.

The cubs will be bottle fed until they transition to dishes. Wild Instincts works to avoid humanizing the cubs to ensure they can be released back to wilderness next fall. (Facebook/Wild Instincts)

Wild Instincts methods will best prepare the cubs to be released back into the wilderness next fall as happy, healthy bears.

The area's flooding has left Wild Instincts very busy providing around-the-clock care for animals impacted by the serious flooding that has impacted their area.