The black bear nicknamed “Lil’ Smokey” by his rescuer was returned to the wild recently by DFG personnel. The bear was released at a remote site in western Siskiyou County.

“Rehabilitating and releasing orphaned bear cubs is a rewarding part of our bear management program,” said DFG Staff Environmental Scientist Doug Updike. “This is a second chance at survival for a cub that would certainly have died.”

The male bear, now approximately 11 months old, was placed in a natural bear den located within 75 miles of where he was found.

Prior to release, the cub was fitted with a tiny radio transmitter to provide DFG an opportunity to periodically monitor his movements. The radio transmitter was attached to one of the bear’s ears and is designed to transmit signals for up to a year.

The bear will finish his winter hibernation and, come spring time, will likely emerge from his den ready and able to fend off larger predators and forage for food on his own.

Last July, CAL FIRE Forester Adam Deem found the injured and orphaned bear cub in Shasta County.

The bear was found amidst the Moon Fire that burned parts of Trinity and Shasta counties. Deem took him to the Fire Incident Command Center at the Shasta County Fairgrounds in Anderson, where paramedics administered IV fluids and antibiotics to the severely dehydrated and burned animal.

DFG Environmental Scientist Scott Hill then arranged for the cub to be taken to the department’s Wildlife Investigations Lab (WIL) in Rancho Cordova for examination by DFG veterinarians Dr. Jennifer Shultz and Dr. Pam Swift.

As time and healing progressed, the veterinarians at the WIL determined that the cub qualified as a potential rehabilitation candidate despite its serious injuries.

All the cub’s paws suffered third degree burns, his right eye area was severely burned and two of his claws were either missing or severely damaged. The claws were of special concern because without them the bear could not forage for food and climb like a normal bear, and would not survive in the wild.

A bear cub is only considered a rehabilitation candidate by DFG if the animal is healthy, incapable of surviving on its own at the time of capture, has not been habituated to people, and continues to exhibit wild bear behavior.

Before a cub can be deemed a rehabilitation candidate and placed in a rehabilitation facility, provisions must be made for the capture, transportation, care and release of the animal.

When he was brought to the WIL, this bear cub weighed approximately 8.5 pounds and was estimated to be four to six months old. Now the cub weighs 90 pounds, significantly larger than its wild counterparts.

After DFG veterinarians treated and bandaged the cub’s paws, DFG Associate Wildlife Biologist and Statewide Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator Nicole Carion arranged to transport the cub to the only rehabilitation facility currently taking bear cubs in the state — Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc., which operates under a permit from DFG.

“The process of evaluating a bear cub for rehabilitation is more complicated than people realize,” said Carion. “It involves a group of experienced wildlife biologists and state veterinarians to decide what is best for the animal. The other part is having a capable rehabilitation facility. This situation is a prime example of programs working together to benefit wildlife.”

Staff at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. worked for months to fully rehabilitate the bear.

“The bear did not enjoy the process, which is positive in this case because he remains wary of humans,” Carion said. “Had he become habituated to people he would not be a candidate for re-release.”

Wild Turkey Hunting Expo on tap

On Sunday, March 1, Wilderness Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation will sponsor the 14th annual Wild Turkey Hunting Expo.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at Wilderness Unlimited’s Sacramento Valley RV Camp near Williams, California. The seminar begins at 10 a.m. It’s all part of W.U.’s ongoing hunter education program.

The first Wild Turkey seminar was held at W.U.’s Hayward offices back in 1996 when W.U. began opening its ranches to turkey hunting.

Terry Knight, a highly regarded expert on turkey hunting, initially led the program. The seminar quickly outgrew its location as turkey hunting popularity exploded. In 1998, W.U. teamed with NWTF and the California Department of Fish and Game, holding the seminar at DFG Headquarters and other locations in the Sacramento area over the years.

The success of this seminar has helped the DFG expand its Advanced Hunter Education Program.

For the second year, the seminar will be co-hosted by Knight and Ryan Mathis, the NWTF’s turkey biologist. Everything there is to know about wild turkey hunting will be discussed in this student-friendly environment.

Topics to be covered are turkey habits, calls, how to call, shotguns, ammo, patterning your gun, camo, blinds, archery — and the seminar will even cover cleaning and cooking your bird.

Wilderness Unlimited is California’s largest manager of private ranches, offering some 30 different ranches for turkey hunting. However, the seminar will give extensive attention to locating birds on public lands including DFG-managed wildlife areas and other public lands.

A hot lunch will be served at the seminar, courtesy of NWTF. A $5 lunch donation is suggested.

To reach the W.U. Sacramento Valley RV Camp, take I-5 north from Sacramento to Williams, then turn east on Highway 20. The camp is one mile from I-5 on the right (south) side of the highway.

For more details about the seminar, contact Knight at 263-1699 or tknight3021@sbcglobal.net.

Due to limited space, reservations are required. To make reservations contact W.U. at (877) 611-4868 or turkey@wildernessunlimited.com.

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with BDCo Accountants and Advisors in St. Helena (www.bdco

cpa.com). Contact Guy at GC.outdoors@sbcglobal.net.