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WATCH: Brevard Zoo Releases Florida Black Bear Cub After Three Months in Rehab

By  //  July 2, 2024

Brevard Zoo spotlight

ABOVE VIDEO: The Brevard Zoo continued to give critical care to Florida black bear cubs in need – and they have a special success story to share with the community.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard Zoo continued to give critical care to Florida black bear cubs in need – and they have a special success story to share with the community.

 The zoo released another cub rehabilitated at the Zoo with the support of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

In January 2024, FWC partners brought a 1-year-old cub to us from the Florida panhandle.

Named Finley by her Zoo animal care team, she appeared to have been alone for some time. Finley was severely underweight and had a skin condition that may have been caused by anemia. Finley came to the zoo weighing about 16 pounds – bears at that age should weigh between 80-100 pounds.

She was taken to the Zoo by FWC to address these medical and nutritional needs with the goal of getting her healthy enough to be released back to her natural range.

She was released in April 2024 – weighing in at 70 pounds after nearly three months with the zoo.

Named Finley by her Zoo animal care team, she appeared to have been alone for some time. Finley was severely underweight and had a skin condition that may have been caused by anemia. Finley came to the zoo weighing about 16 pounds – bears at that age should weigh between 80-100 pounds. (Brevard Zoo Image)

Ensuring their rehab cubs receive great care while not becoming accustomed to people isn’t a simple task.

While she was with us, Finley’s animal care team cleaned and stocked her space once a day while she was in a secure carrier. Her animal care team also fed her using a belt feeder, a device that slowly dispensed her diet, including gastrointestinal dog food, peanuts, pumpkin and greens.

Finley was also introduced to a variety of enrichment in her space, from novelty foods like frozen pumpkins to fun substrates like pine shavings. These items encouraged her natural behaviors like foraging, exploring her space and investigating new items.

“We’re proud to be able to lend our expertise in animal wellbeing, especially to help Finley along her rehabilitation journey with FWC,” said a Brevard Zoo spokesperson.

“Together, we are working to better understand the needs of orphaned black bear cubs to help increase the number of bears who can be successfully rehabilitated and released.”