Last week, an evening call came in from the OPP about a bear hit by a car in Bala, with what appeared to be a broken leg.
A staff member and a volunteer arrived to find an officer patiently waiting, with the troubled bear lying in a nearby ditch.
With a catchpole in hand, Aspen staff were able to corral the struggling bear into a bear barrel.
A commuter who was very disappointed he’d hit the bear suggested we name him Teddy. The officer made sure to pass the message on as we headed off.
After a night at Aspen, the bear, which we estimate to be about two years old, was taken to Cottage County Animal Clinic in Parry Sound, where helpful staff took a series of X-rays to determine the bear has an incomplete fracture of the humerus.
The veterinarian also injected fluids into Teddy to keep him hydrated throughout his ordeal.
Fortunately, the good news is all Teddy needs to heal is time.
Now he sits in an isolated enclosure near the barn. It took him about three days to recover enough from the aches and bruises of the accident to eat and drink.
Today, he’s able to take care of himself as his leg slowly heals.
We estimate that the leg will take five or six weeks to heal, with the help of limited movement because of the enclosure he’s in. We’ll give him a few treats to keep life interesting in his small space during these hot summer days, including some frozen fruit to keep him cool.
Teddy should make a full recovery, and will be released at a remote location far away from people, and cars. This is a rare success story when it comes to animals hit by cars.
While we get many calls about animals struck by vehicles, it’s unusual to find the victim in good enough shape for rehabilitation. Whether it’s a deer with a broken leg, a raccoon with damaged organs or other animals, the success rate is not high.
Teddy’s future is more promising, and we look forward to releasing him back into the wild where he belongs.
(These articles are contributed by staff at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife with a mandate to educate the public towards a better understanding of local fauna.)