Bear cub burned in Colorado wildfire released into wild

DURANGO, Colo. – An orphaned bear cub burned by a Colorado wildfire has been released back into the wild.

The Durango Herald reports that the cub was placed in the mountains west of Durango on Friday, asleep inside a man-made den along with a second orphaned cub. Officials hope they will not wake up until spring when food is more available.

The injured cub’s feet were severely burned in a wildfire that raged north of Durango last summer.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said the cub weighed only 10 pounds when she came to a wildlife rehabilitation centre but gained 80 pounds. Once the cub was able to walk, she was moved to a pen with other cubs.

The centre limits human interaction, giving the cubs a better chance at survival when released.