PHOENIX – Five young bears that the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center saved last year were released into the wild. Arizona Game and Fish Department joined the effort with the center, which is based in Scottsdale.

Kim Carr, SWCC’s animal care manager, stated in a press release that “rehabilitating baby bears” is not an easy task. It costs $30 per day to feed one baby bear, and Southwest had five during most of the year. We couldn’t have been happier to see these little bears grow in size and strength.

Arizona’s only black bear is found in forests at elevations between 4,000 and 10,000 feet.

In August 2021, three of the five bears arrived in the conservation center. Two of the bears were found next to their mother in the Navajo Nation. They were too young and weak to survive in the wild. The sow was killed in a collision with a vehicle.

After it was discovered alone south of Tucson, AZGFD brought another one in. The mother was not located.

The fifth cub was found by monks from the Saint Paisius Orthodox Monastery, Safford. It was malnourished and had been seen only by them. It was malnourished, dehydrated, and had pneumonia.

The three oldest bears were released in the summer, and the two other bears in September.

In the release, Dr. Leo Egar, director at SWCC for animal health, welfare, and survival, stated that “it’s always nerve-wracking mornings like this one.” We just want everything to be smooth and the children to return home safely. We do this because it is what we do.

Arizona is home to approximately 2,500 black bears

To report bear-related situations, call AZGFD at 623-236-7201