FLEISCHMANNS — On April 20, Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Hunter, in Greene County, took in two orphaned cubs after the sow was killed in a vehicle collision in Warwick, NY. The center is one of just a few wildlife rehabilitators in NY capable of handling black bears. The two cubs remained at the center until August. A third rehabilitated bear cub was then tagged and DEC Wildlife staff released the three young bears on state land in northern Ulster County.
DEC subsequently received reports that two of the tagged bear cubs were observed in the Village of Fleischmanns in Delaware County causing disturbances and getting into residential trash. An Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) responded to Fleischmanns on Saturday August 30th. The ECO hazed the animals with rubber buck shot in an attempt to negatively condition the bears and to push them away from the village and back into the wild to avoid further negative human interactions. During this encounter, the ECO observed that one of the cubs had a previously sustained injury to its rear leg.
On August 31st, Dave LoVerde, proprietor of the Friends of the Feathered and Furry wildlife rehabilitation center, set a trap for both bears after learning of the negative interaction in Fleischmanns and injury to one of the cubs. Dave captured both bears and transported them back to the center. X-rays showed the injured cub had been illegally shot with a shotgun shattering its rear left leg. Due to the extent of its injuries, the rehabber determined it was best to humanely euthanize the injured bear cub.
*If you have information about the illegal shooting of this bear cub, you can call 1-877-844-ECOS. The ECO Dispatch Center in Albany is open 24/7/365.
DEC plans to re-release the other bear at another location in DECs Region 3, further south from the previous release location.
Wildlife rehabilitator, Dave LoVerde stated that DEC has had prior success in the past releasing bears at the same state land location used in this case. He chalked up the unfortunate sequence of events to simple bad luck with two of the three cubs heading in the wrong direction back toward a populated area.
By way of background, Dave and his wife, Missy Runyan dedicated their lives to helping sick and injured animals heal, releasing them back into the wild since 2010. Their motto remains, “Let wild be wild,” as they strive to return injured wildlife to their natural habitat.
“Sadly, in late 2021, Missy, who had gained wide respect and love as a rehabilitator and educator, passed away suddenly.” Dave and the Center’s volunteers now carry on her mission, continuing to care for animals and educating the public about protecting wildlife.
The Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center is located in Hunter, New York remains a viable resource for reporting and assisting wild animals in need within the Hudson Valley and Northern Catskills region of New York State. They are a non-profit organization and can be reached at (518) 989-6534 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fffwildlifecenter/about
Happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time!
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