Shawano area cubs rehabilitating in Rhinelander

Bears to be released into wild in mid-October
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The illegal killing of an adult black bear sow on June 4 in the Town of Richmond left three cubs on their own. But with the help of a wildlife rehabilitation center, the three cubs are getting proper nourishment and care and will soon be back in the wild again.

The three cubs were safely and successfully captured and then relocated to Wild Instincts in Rhinelander soon after the incident took place.

“They are all doing very well,” said Mark Naniot, the director of rehabilitation and co-founder — along with his wife Sharon Larson — of Wild Instincts.

“They’ve adjusted very well. They’re growing very well.”

Naniot said the cubs were given an injection upon their arrival to Rhinelander to rid them of worms, parasites, fleas and ticks before being placed in holding cages for a couple days to let the injection run its course.

The three cubs were then introduced to several other cubs on the property. As of Tuesday, Wild Instincts had 16 bear cubs on site.

Naniot said that cubs “really don’t hurt each other. So it’s just one big party all day long in there.”

He also noted that people could check out their Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/wildinstinctswi/ — where videos of the cubs are posted from time to time.

The three cubs and any other bear cubs at the property, which are typically born around the second week of January, will be released back into the wild in mid-October.

At that time, Naniot said they will weigh over 100 pounds. When the three bear cubs arrived, their weight was between 12-15 pounds.

Between now and their release date, the bear cubs are treated daily with big bowls of food. Naniot said a good portion of what the bears consume while in their care is fruits and vegetables, as that will be what they searching for when they are released back into the wild.

Wild Instincts tries to provide the cubs with as much of a natural setting as they can during their stay, limiting human interaction as much as possible so that they don’t become too comfortable around humans.

While the public can’t physically go see the cubs, which typically cost about $3,000 to raise, according to Naniot, people can still lend a helping hand.

Wild Instincts is permitted by the state and federal government, but doesn’t receive funding from them, instead relying upon donations, memberships and fundraisers, the last of which is not available in person this year because of the pandemic.

A “donate” button is located on the site’s webpage — https://www.wildinstinctsrehab.com/index.htm — where a cash donation can be made. Cash donations or checks can also be sent to Wild Instincts, 4621 Apperson Drive, Rhinelander, WI 54501

Wild Instincts also has a wishlist on its website, along with an Amazon.com wishlist — https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1BIIKNMLN51TT/140-2105657-87... — that people can shop and donate from as well.

sports@newmedia-wi.com