The Rescue of "Valkyrie" the Black Bear Cub

The Incident

Location: Near Dawson Creek, B.C.
Cause of Injury: The cub, born in early 2025, is believed to have been hibernating in a slash pile (debris intended for burning). Workers unknowingly lit the pile, causing severe burns to the bear.
Discovery: She was found curled up on a road in extreme cold (temperatures dropped to -34°C shortly after). She was initially thought to be just hypothermic, but an exam revealed serious burns on her face, back, and paws.

Recovery & Treatment

Caregivers: She was transported nine hours to the Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Smithers, B.C., arriving on December 20.
Current Status: Now named Valkyrie, she is recovering well. Her face is healing, though her paws require daily bandaging with specialized creams.
Unique Solution: Caretakers are successfully using duct tape to keep the bandages secure on her paws to prevent infection.

Future Outlook

Socialization: Once her treatment concludes in a few weeks, she will be slowly introduced to other bears at the sanctuary.
Release: The goal is to release Valkyrie back into the wild in June.
Note: Angelika Langen, the society's manager, noted that Valkyrie was incredibly lucky to be found, stating she likely would not have survived the cold with her injuries.

Original Facebook post HERE