Bear Cubs Found Near Their Lifeless Mom Make Miraculous Recovery And Start New Life In Florida
Bentley and Treena didn’t get the kind of start any cub should have.
The two young bears were found in northwestern Georgia after their mother had been shot, leaving them completely alone in the wild at just about seven weeks old.
By the time rescuers discovered them, nearly two weeks had passed since they had last been under her care. They were weak, sick, and in desperate need of help.
According to Flamingo Gardens’ director of wildlife Michael Ruggeri, the situation was urgent from the beginning, as he shared in an interview:
“The cubs were only about seven weeks old at the time and still heavily dependent on their mother. After local residents discovered the orphaned bears, they set traps and left out food in an effort to safely capture them.”
Once rescued, the bears were immediately taken for medical care. One cub arrived at a Georgia facility already sick, and both needed antibiotics and fluids to recover from dehydration and illness.
It was a fragile start, but it was only the beginning of their journey.
After stabilizing, another problem came up: Georgia law does not allow rehabilitated bears to be released back into the wild once they’ve been taken into human care. That meant Bentley and Treena needed a new home.
Eventually, caretakers found the perfect place for them at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida, a wildlife sanctuary and learning center that agreed to take in the pair.
Now, after a long and difficult journey, the cubs are finally safe and settling into a new life. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners wrote on Facebook:
“They’re cute, curious, and already stealing hearts — while helping share an important message about wildlife conservation.”
At their new home, the cubs are thriving. Ruggeri explained:
“They are loving their exhibit. They got here about two weeks ago. They haven’t lost their winter coats. So, you’ll see this kind of long reddish hair on them. They’ll eventually lose that after they swim in the water a lot and do all that.”
The cubs are still growing into their personalities too. According to Flamingo Gardens staff, Bentley and Treena are full of energy and curiosity, constantly exploring their new surroundings.
Laura Wyatt, curator of wildlife at the sanctuary, described them as playful and mischievous:
“Bentley and Treena are mischievous and energetic, like 8th graders who can’t get in trouble. It is super exciting to have them here.”
What started as a heartbreaking situation in the wild has now become a story of survival, second chances, and a place where two orphaned cubs can finally just be… bears again.
