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Orphaned Baby Bear Cub 'Tahoe' May Be From North Coast Redwoods

LAKE TAHOE (CBS SF) -- The mystery surrounding the origin of a very young bear cub that wound up in the care of a wildlife rescue organization in Lake Tahoe got a little clearer on Saturday.

According to Ann Bryant, executive director of Lake Tahoe's BEAR League (www.savebears.org), a man called her on Saturday claiming responsibility for rescuing an orphaned bear cub left in her driveway in early April.

Bryant said the caller knew the answer to every question regarding certain unpublished details of the discovery of the 10-week-old female cub -- nicknamed "Tahoe."

Bryant said the man found the cub crying and hugging her deceased mother near Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The man told Bryant he couldn't discern the adult bear's cause of death.

The anonymous caller told Bryant he notified authorities and was told to leave the cub alone but he couldn't bring himself to do so and brought the cub to Bryant's home.

Bryant says the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be running DNA from her hair and blood in an attempt to precisely pinpoint Tahoe's origin where, after she has grown big and healthy enough, she may be released. At present, Tahoe is receiving treatment at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (www.ltwc.org).

Anyone with information should contact:

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc.

Phone, fax & email:
ph. 530.577.2273
f. 530.577-1231
info@ltwc.org

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