Orphaned Cubs - How to Help!
🟫 IF YOU FIND A BEAR CUB THAT APPEARS ABANDONED
It is heartbreaking to encounter a crying, orphaned cub. While mother bears sometimes leave cubs temporarily to search for food, in many cases where a cub is distressed and alone, the mother is not coming back. True abandonment is rare — most often, the mother has been killed.
🟫 WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY
- Record the exact time you first saw the cub.
- Keep visual contact with the cub as best you can.
- Call a local rehab centre immediately for guidance.
- BC has three rehab centres that take orphaned cubs.
- Call the RAPP Line: 1 877 952 7277
- Report the time first seen
- Report the location of the cub
🟫 WHAT NOT TO DO
- Do NOT pick up or touch the cub.
- Do NOT chase the cub away.
- Maintain distance without scaring the cub.
- In BC, it is illegal to pick up or transport an orphaned cub without BC COS permission given to the rehab centre.
• Ensure all dogs are leashed in the area.
• Do NOT lose track of the cub.
🐻 The Rules
🟫 RULE
- It is illegal for the public to pick up, transport, or attempt to “rescue” a bear cub.
- Only the BC Conservation Officer Service, provincial wildlife veterinarians, or authorized rehab facilities may capture or handle cubs.
🟫 CONTEXT
- Many orphaned cubs are reported to the RAPP Line, but no action is taken.
- It often takes strong public involvement to save these cubs, especially when the mother was killed.
- BearKind does not support leaving orphaned cubs to suffer and die.
- Leaving cubs to die goes against everything BearKind stands for.
- The lives of orphaned cubs matter to the BC public, and BearKind will continue to advocate and educate.
🟫 EXAMPLE: RADAR (MAPLE RIDGE ORPHANED CUB)
- RADAR was saved because the public and media pushed back against the province’s initial refusal to allow pickup.
- After pressure, the province changed its decision and allowed the cub to be transported to rehab.
- BearKind position: all orphaned cubs should be allowed to be picked up and transported to rehab.
🐻 Rehab Centres in BC
CRITTER CARE WILDLIFE SOCIETY (Langley, BC)
📍 481 216 St, Langley Twp, BC V2Z 1S8
📞 (604) 530 2064
Responds to: Sunshine Coast, North Vancouver, Lower Mainland (up to but not including Hope)
Species: Orphaned black bear cubs
NORTHERN LIGHTS WILDLIFE SOCIETY (Smithers, BC)
📍 17366 Telkwa High Road, Smithers, BC V0J 2N7
📞 (250) 877 1181
Responds to: All remaining areas of BC (except Vancouver Island)
Species:
- Orphaned black bear cubs
- Orphaned grizzly bear cubs
NORTH ISLAND WILDLIFE RECOVERY CENTRE (Errington, BC)
📍 1240 Leffler Rd, Errington, BC V0R 1V0
📞 (250) 248 8534
Responds to: Vancouver Island
Species: Orphaned black bear cubs
Radar (April 15, 2026)
Radar (April 30, 2026 at Critter Care)
