Update 1 p.m. March 28: This story has been updated with new information from state wildlife biologist Kathleen Black.
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Wythe County officials and firefighters who rescued an infant bear cub from a March 14 brush fire are being recognized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals with Compassionate Action Awards.
The awards will go to Matt Hankins, assistant county administrator, and Chuck Parnell, the county’s director of emergency services, and his staff. The Ivanhoe Volunteer Fire Department will receive a Compassionate Fire Department Award.
“This bear cub, who almost certainly would have perished in the fire or starved to death, is alive today thanks to these individuals’ heroic actions,” PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch said in a news release. “PETA encourages everyone to follow their example by acting swiftly when they see any animal in danger.”
Hankins said Wednesday he’s happy to receive the recognition “not just for me but for our other first responders and Wythe County. The recognition was a real surprise. I’m sure other people on the scene would have done the same thing if I hadn’t been there, because we have some really great people serving in our fire departments and rescue squads.”
The fire happened when a resident who was burning brush lost control of the blaze, Hankins said earlier. A former volunteer firefighter, Hankins responded to the scene to monitor the fire because he had been serving as acting chief of emergency services.
An adult bear was seen leaving the fire, and those who saw it warned officials at the scene that a cub or cubs could be in danger.
It was Hankins who carried the 5.5-pound bear out of harm’s way, after finding him with the help of firefighters. The black bear cub could be heard yelping and was found about 2 feet from where the fire burned.
Because the mother couldn’t be found and there was so much noise and commotion at the scene, she wasn’t expected back anytime soon. Hankins checked the bear for injuries and, finding none, he limited the cub’s exposure to humans and later turned him over to Kathleen Black, a state wildlife biologist based in Marion.
She kept the bear overnight, and he was taken the next morning to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro.
PETA is the largest animal rights organization in the world, according to its website.
David Perle, PETA’s media division senior manager, said the organization gives compassionate awards to people and organizations who have taken action to save or improve the lives of animals.
“PETA is always keeping an eye out for stories of kind people who didn’t look the other way when they saw an animal needing help. When we saw your story, we knew that their actions would be wonderful to recognize. We give out compassionate awards nearly every month to people or organizations who go to great lengths to help animals in need,” he said in an email Wednesday.
Hankins, Parnell and his staff, and the fire department will receive framed certificates and vegan chocolates from PETA.
Nearly two weeks after the rescue, the bear cub remains at the wildlife center, Grace Leytham, a front desk coordinator at the center, said Wednesday.
“It’s still active and doing well under our care,” she said.
Rescuers had hoped to place the cub with a wild foster mother, but due to the unseasonably warm weather of recent weeks, it’s too late to arrange that, Black said Thursday.
She said several options were considered, but the warm temperatures have brought many bears out of their dens.
“The chances of them accepting an orphaned cub into the family once they have left the den are greatly reduced, and we don’t want to put him in a situation where he could be rejected,” she said.
The cub will be raised at the wildlife center using strict protocols to ensure he doesn’t become habituated to people. As he grows and needs less care, he will be moved to the center’s outdoor facilities, where he can explore, interact with other cubs and learn how to find natural foods, Black said.
He will stay at the center until next spring, when he will be released back into the wild as a yearling, she added. This timing lines up with when young bears in the wild normally leave their mothers to find territories of their own.
The bear cub was seen briefly Tuesday being given a bottle of formula on a live hospital camera event held by the wildlife center.
Hankins was watching.
“I got to watch the cub live on the rescue agency’s website yesterday morning, but it was only a brief appearance,” he said. “He appears to be active, growing and hungry. I’m happy he’s apparently healthy and has the prospect of a good life ahead.”
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