After sharing Mama Bear and her cub’s story, we were overwhelmed by your response. We received calls, donations, bags of nuts delivered to the sanctuary, and heartfelt messages that showed she was in your thoughts. This story tugged at all of our heartstrings, and we know you all have been waiting for updates.
The bear cub is doing great. She’s eating well, growing stronger each day, and most importantly, our team thinks she has a good chance of returning to the wild one day. Arizona Game and Fish Department oversees all bear management decisions, so while plans are still developing, we remain hopeful about her eventual release.
Mama bear is showing signs of healing, though she still has a long road ahead. We have confirmed that Mama Bear is almost completely blind. We’re still unsure what caused her blindness or how long she’s been affected, but we’re working on a plan to help manage her pain and give her the best quality of life possible. Because of her condition, Mama is officially a permanent sanctuary resident.
When she first arrived, she was barely eating, if at all, but now our animal care manager, Kim, reports she’s eating consistently. There’s plenty of waste in her enclosure every day (gross, yes, but such a good sign!), and her appetite gives us reasons to be optimistic as she continues healing. She’s also become noticeably more alert and is interacting more with her cub, which is huge. Plans are underway to move both bears into an outdoor enclosure in the future, and our team is working hard to make sure it’s perfect for them.
Mama bear has no idea how many people she has rooting for her. Her story has touched all of us here, and we’re so grateful to be part of a community that truly loves and supports our wildlife.
The cub is thankfully okay, a small silver lining in an otherwise heartbreaking situation. Bear cubs are typically born in January, but at just 12 pounds, this little one is severely malnourished and underweight, appearing much younger than she should. She did not suffer any major injuries, which was great news considering her circumstances.
We wish we knew their full story, but what we do know is this: Mama gave everything she had to protect and feed her baby. Now, we’ll do everything we can to honor that fight and provide them both with the care they deserve.
September, 2025