Update: The Manson Creek cubs, Rocky and Stony, have settled in really well and are gaining weight at a rapid pace. Next week we will introduce them to the rest of the group.
Please enjoy this video of Rocky & Stoney post-rescue. If you are interested in helping us help wild life in need, consider a donation.
We have quite a story to tell!
August 16, 2018
The call came in early in the morning, a mother black bear had been killed by a truck collision and left 2 cubs behind, would we come and rescue them? Come where was my answer? Manson Creek was the reply. Where in the world is Manson Creek?
It turns out it is quite a ways from Smithers and I am thinking by the time we get there, who knows where those cubs are. But the caller, Mike McKone, insists that him and his workers will keep an eye on them until we get there, he also states they have equipment to climb a tree if needed. Seems like there is a lot of dedication on the other end, so Peter and I pack up and off we go once again. The trip to Fort Saint James (about 4 hours) is pretty eventless.
Now we
“only” have 185km left. According to Mike’s partner Lu McKone it’s
pretty straight forward turn right at the fist T and left at the second
and then we find it easy. Well let’s put it this way there are a lot
more rights and lefts and when you drive a rough logging road in the
middle of nowhere you start questioning “are we still going the right
way?”. After 3 (towards the end pretty nerve-wracking ) hours we finally
come upon some signs that point to Manson Creek. Our welcome there is
warm and super friendly. Mike and Lu are so very nice. Off we go again
to the cubs location and now we worry about descending darkness and
apparently a female grizzly that is looking for an easy meal.
Arriving at the accident site we meet two of Mikes Crew Daniel (Danny) Teichroeb and Sean Anderson. When
inquiring about the cubs, they state that they haven’t seen them all
day. The last sighting was early in the morning. Peter and I look at
each other and think the same thing, well, that was a long trip for
nothing. But Mike is full of contagious positive energy, he is certain
we can find them. So I scramble down a steep hill, with lots of snags
and underbrush and even more mosquitos and biting flies in a long shot
attempt to locate two cubs that are being pursued by a grizzly. I
learned a long time ago to listen and so I sit down and do just that.
As time slips away and it gets darker and the insect bites are no fun at
all, I suddenly hear what I have been hoping for, the (at least to me)
very distinct sound of little claws scrambling up tree bark. I turn my
head in that direction and a few 100 meters downhill, high up in an old
dead tree I look directly into a cubs face. Boy my heart rate
accelerated at phenomenal speed as I alerted the others. We all meet
under the old tree looking up at two pretty exhausted looking cubs that
stare fearfully down at us. Climbing dead trees is a dangerous
undertaking and though Danny makes an attempt to go up, the fearful cubs
just shoot way to the top and out of reach in a heartbeat. Now it’s
almost totally dark and there is no way we can get the cubs this
evening.
With
a worried heard, as we can hear the grizzly in the bushes, we retreat.
Danny promises to check on them and we all catch some much needed sleep.
Upon
our early morning return, we find Danny under the same tree, reporting
happily that both cubs are still there. But they look even worse now.
Despite safety concerns, Danny once again tries to climb the tree, he is
going slow motion and the cubs watch him tiredly. Just as he gets into
reach of my tranquilizer pole, one cub once again shoots up the tree out
of reach. But the second cub seems to tired to move and with a long
reach Danny can poke him.
However our cheer is cut short as with his last strength this cub too shoots up the tree out of reach for Danny to catch him as he falls asleep. We all watch in horrified fascination as the cub loses his grip and starts falling out of the tree.
However our cheer is cut short as with his last strength this cub too shoots up the tree out of reach for Danny to catch him as he falls asleep. We all watch in horrified fascination as the cub loses his grip and starts falling out of the tree.
Peter and
Mike have a blanket ready, but as he falls, he bounces from branch to
branch, changing directions constantly and in the end misses the blanket
by a few centimetres. We are all worried, but a short examination shows
no apparent broken bones and his breathing is even and regularly. After much debate, we move the cub up closer towards the road and
secure him in our transport box. We then set up a life trap beside him
hoping his sibling can evade the still present grizzly, and come to join
his or her brother (the first cub is a male).
Convincing Mike and Danny to leave the site is no easy task, they are really worried about their little charges. But the second cub will not leave the tree with us there. So we leave for 2 long hours, hoping for the best. Returning I can see from the road that the trap is closed, but I can’t see if something is in it or not.
Convincing Mike and Danny to leave the site is no easy task, they are really worried about their little charges. But the second cub will not leave the tree with us there. So we leave for 2 long hours, hoping for the best. Returning I can see from the road that the trap is closed, but I can’t see if something is in it or not.
Once again we scramble downhill and to our
immense relief and joy cub #2 (also a male) is
sitting there, not looking too pleased with his new accommodation.
We are all ecstatic, to have pulled off this rescue and after both cubs are secured and reunited in the transport box we say Goodbye to the great people at Manson Creek and start the long journey home.
We are all ecstatic, to have pulled off this rescue and after both cubs are secured and reunited in the transport box we say Goodbye to the great people at Manson Creek and start the long journey home.
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The Three Little Bears
July 17, 2018
On July 9th we got called to Mackenzie by Conservation Officers to help capture 3 cubs that had been orphaned. Not to lucky at first in locating them, we finally got them with the help of a lot of local people. It was a great experience to see so much local involvement. Special thanks go to tree climber Drew Martin and CHMM.
All three cubs are doing well and turned out to be 1 male and 2 females.
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