A happy ending story, just in time for Christmas

Last Friday, the Kodiak Mirror newspaper told a heart warming story for the animal lovers of Kodiak.

A 50 pound bear cub started to show up near the Wall Mart store for 2 consecutive days. On the third it crossed the street and was seen at the Mill Bay Coffee, just one block from our house (sorry I didn't get a picture!).

The day after that it was found walking around the trailer park across another "major" street.

We do have an official "bear specialist" on the island who is called whenever a bear is repeatedly seen in city.

In most cities they would probably immediately call out the SWAT team. But not in Kodiak. The bear guy says he kept getting hourly reports about the location of the bear. Not because they feared for their own lives, but because most people were concerned that she might be hit by a car.

So after 2 days around the trailer park, she was finally found under a trailer. She might be only be a 50 pounder, but that is probably enough to inflict a lot of injury if you get her scared. But, she was easily tranquilized (while the State Troopers stood by)....). And then to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) it was, just across the Portage Glacier park headquarters, only one hour south of Anchorage. This is the second young brown bear cub they get this year.

Why such a young cub was wandering the streets in December is any one's guess. Was it a bad mother who didn't take her into hibernation? Was the mom killed and 11 month old had no idea of what to do? Who knows.

There is no way she can be trained to return to the wild. We just know that you will be able to see her for years to come at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC).

By the way, that is a great place to visit on a trip to Anchorage....and a great place to send a year-end tax deductible contribution, since it provides a valuable service to our injured wildlife!

P.S. As a follow up on Kaladi, the 3 pound, 2 day old sea otter they found stranded across the street form the beach last June....according to people at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, by July she was off to the Tacoma, Washington Zoo. It is easy to find a place to adopt those young and cute animals. And while you have your wallet out, send some money to the Alaska SeaLife Center also!