Badly burned bear cub rescued from Washington wildfire

A badly burned black bear cub that hobbled up the right driveway has been rescued and flown by a volunteer pilot to a wildlife care center in California.

Steve Love lives in north-central Washington’s Methow Valley, where the Carlton Complex of wildfires has scorched nearly 400 square miles since mid-July. When the 37-pound cub took shelter under his horse trailer late last week, he put out a bowl of water and tossed it some apricots from his tree.

The next day, a state Fish and Wildlife officer was able to capture the cub and take it to Wenatchee.

“We’ve seen a lot of death in this fire,” state biologist Rich Beausoleil tells KIRO Radio. “When you get a chance to save one every now and then, it just feels good. We’re just hoping she can make a full recovery and get back out there.”

Beausoleil says the cub has severe 3rd degree burns on all four paws. A local vet donated time and medicine and Beausoleil fed the cub yogurt and dog food while trying to determine who could help it.

“They had about a week of 100 degree temperatures, in addition to all the ash and fire, and the cub was just looking for some shade,” says Beausoleil.

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care agreed to take the cub, since named Cinder. The state biologist also reached out to Pilots for Paws and a Seattle pilot volunteered to deliver the cub to the California center.

Cinder is now safely at the Lake Tahoe center and receiving care.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.