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Bear cub found emaciated near Durango to make full recovery

When the bear arrived at the rehabilitation facility, she was only 13 pounds, CPW said.

DURANGO, Colo. — A cub found emaciated and eating out of bird feeders earlier this month north of Durango will make a full recovery, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said in a Facebook post on Friday.

>> The video above is a video montage of really, really good bear photos.

CPW said it found the female cub on Jan. 5 with injuries to her paw.

>> CPW full Facebook post.

The cub was starving and dehydrated. CPW said they believed she might have been orphaned early in the summer.

Local wildlife officers found the cub and safely tranquilized her, CPW said in a Facebook post.

>> The photo below is of the cub's paw when CPW found her on Jan. 5. 

Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The bear cub had injuries on its paws.

>> CPW's original Facebook post. 

She will stay and complete her recovery at the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte. The center mimics as much as possible the conditions an animal will face in the wild to prepare it for a successful release.

RELATED: Injured bear cub found in Durango, taken to rehabilitation facility

Bears that come to Frisco Creek have minimal contact with humans and live in a secure enclosure with other bears. The enclosure has tree branches, stumps, boulders to imitate conditions in a forest, and metal containers for hibernation.

Though only 13 pounds when they met her, the cub was growing and transitioning to solid foods, CPW said.

Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
An injured bear cub seen eating from birdfeeders in Durango was taken to a rehabilitation facility by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers.

CPW said she would spend the rest of her hibernation at the facility, with minimal human contact. The facility was hopeful for a release date of early spring. 

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