Colorado Security Guard Discovers A Huge Animal Hiding In Corner Of Hospital Parking Lot
It was a typical morning at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, that is, until the staff noticed something unusual in the employee parking lot.
Among the rows of cars, a few workers spotted movement near the concrete barriers. When they looked closer, they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Curled up in a small gap by the pavement was a baby black bear, scared, alone, and completely out of place.
The staff quickly realized the little cub needed help and contacted the hospital’s security team. Without wasting a moment, one of the guards called Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) for assistance.
When Aaron Berscheid, a district wildlife manager for CPW’s Southeast Region, arrived, he didn’t immediately spot the cub. Aaron shared in an interview:
“When I got closer, I realized how small it was.”
Peeking out from a hole in the concrete was the tiniest furry face he’d ever seen. Berscheid had encountered plenty of bears during his career, but never one this young – and never alone in a hospital parking lot.
In Colorado Springs, it isn’t unheard of for bears to wander into neighborhoods, but this was different. Aaron said:
“The bear was definitely scared and nervous. Just kind of tucked up in there with sad puppy dog eyes.”
The cub had likely been wandering for days, possibly separated from its mother or siblings.
Hungry and frightened, it had found a small hiding spot and tried to disappear from the world. Had the hospital staff not spotted it in time, it probably wouldn’t have survived the night.
Working carefully, Berscheid and another wildlife manager, Demetria Wright, gently freed the cub from the hole. They wrapped it up safely and transported it to the CPW office for a checkup.
At the office, the team examined the little bear and found it to be healthy overall – just severely underweight. Aaron said:
“It ended up weighing 22 pounds, which is very small for this time of year. Usually they’ll be around 50 pounds or more, assuming they’re getting all the food that they need to thrive.”
His best guess? Here it is:
“The theory that I have is that this bear was either a runt of twins or more likely a runt of triplets.”
After some water, rest, and reassurance, the cub began to calm down. Its next stop was Frisco Creek Animal Care, a specialized wildlife rehabilitation center where it could safely grow and regain strength.
At Frisco Creek, the cub would have everything it needed – food, care, and space to thrive – while still maintaining its wild instincts. Aaron explained:
“The amount of human interaction is very, very minimal, which is good for these animals so that they don’t get reliant on human interaction in order to survive.”
In about six months, once the cub is strong enough to fend for itself, it will be released back into the wild – free to live the life it was meant to.
Thanks to the sharp eyes of hospital workers, the compassion of rescuers, and the dedication of the rehabilitation team, this frightened little bear now has a real chance at a future. Aaron said:
“Come next spring when it gets released, it’ll have all the natural instincts that bears should have and be a lot better off health-wise at this point.”
What began as a shocking discovery in a hospital parking lot ended as something far more beautiful – a story of teamwork, kindness, and one lucky cub’s second chance at life.
