PAWS Connections Anil Kapahi
Lucky Seven
One of seven bears who was returned to the wild in mid-May after receiving care at PAWS Wildlife Center.
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eleasing seven American Black Bears over two days is an intricate process during routine times. During a pandemic, it requires even more planning and adaptation to protect human health and the well-being of the bears. PAWS staff readily accepted this challenge, knowing that early May was the opportune time to release these orphaned bears, several of whom had been in care at PAWS Wildlife Center for over a year. Spring is when bears emerge from hibernation and yearlings are naturally independent of their moms. Prior to a bear release, PAWS rehabilitation and veterinary teams, along with officials from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, anesthetize the bear for a final exam that includes a weight check, blood test, and application of ear tags and GPS collars for later tracking. With multiple bears, and with social distancing required, this was a trickier process than usual. Unable to perform the procedures in our small, enclosed wildlife surgery room,
Pre-release exams took place outdoors to adhere to safe social distancing protocols.
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