Second Chance Wildlife, Inc. www.beartodream.org

Second Chance Wildlife, Inc.is a 501c3 nonprofit organization:Bear Rehabilitation,Research & Release

10 lb male cub named Lubec arrived on 6-12-09

10-16-09Lubec weighed 58 lbs when released back to the wild :o)

OTHER Updates! Go to Facebook Page: Second-Chance-Wildlife-Inc-Bear-rehabilitation-and-research

Hope you will support our efforts! List 2011,2010,2009,2008,2007

To learn a bit more history about the individual bears;go to this page.

Rain & fog=cubs & yearling bears going up in trees

Cub Lubec while in 3 acre pen (he is living in the wild now)

6-12-09 Lubec cub arrived weighing 10 lbs

Cub out grew the log quickly

I have noticed over the years from placing bear cubs in a natural habitat that they have indeed had an opportunity to use their natural bear skills,and instincts, that they already have in place from the get go;the cubs simply needed an opportunity to use them, while being exposed to an environment that is similar to what bears in the wild have.The bear facilities give the orphaned cubs protection,and I truly believe that the mothers sow intent is to protect the cubs rather than teach them.I am not saying that they may not learn from her at all ,but as I state documented facts=thus being; I have never had to teach the cubs how to climb trees,swim,or forage; they did this all on their own.Once bear cubs are placed in the 3 acre natural habitat rehabilitation facility;they are being exsposed to what bears need most;bear habitat, so that they can explore, and indeed use the skills, that they already have in place.ALLOWING BEARS TO BE BEARS IS THE KEY:o)

13 NEW CAMERAS :o)

Go to this link to see all the bear videos on YouTube :o)

"Visit The Photo Zone too"

6-6-10 (7lb 4oz male cub)

Dawn with the new arrival "BUR" the bear cub.

6 cubs preparing to be moved into 3 acre bear pen

This photo was taken just after them being ear tagged & weighed / smaller bear pen-cubs are resting.

Six bear cubs in the 3 acre pen:o)

Cubs resting in an Oak tree.

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If you would like to mail a donation.Send to:Dawn L. Brown Second Chance Wildlife, Inc.90 Mountain Road,New Sharon Maine, 04955 Phone: 207-778-2902 Email: dawnbrown@hciwireless.net

About Us:Dawn & Michael

Go to this link:My husband & I install hardwood and laminate flooring for a living "when we have work".

Dawn L. Brown: Maine bear rehabilitator

winter den check " Ice the bear"

SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE,INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

I/Dawn have been a Maine licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 1997:My wildlife rehabilitation permit was acquired through: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.I feel very blessed having the opportunity to observe and document cub behavior over the years too, and I will continue to learn,as well as others who are inspired by this amazing species.

Biologist Randy Cross,Jennifer Vashon are measuring,weighing,and putting collars on the (3) Standish bear cubs(2) female cubs/Sandy & Miles (1) male cub/Oxbow were radio/VHF collared and released on August 23rd,2011 up in the Ashland study area) 2012 UPDATE:This is great news! All 3 bears/yearlings now in the wild; are doing very well,and are certainly behaving as bears :o) ("Sandy" weighed 41 lbs)(Miles weighed 42 lbs)("Oxbow"weighed 54 lbs) Though these bears are siblings/Standish trio;they all had denned up separately in different locations in the wild.I had a bit of concern at first that they had separated ,but too knew their skills! I see their ...condition now living in the wild;and I am so impressed with these bears.Time gives answers, and being persistence,and not giving up,certainly is rewarding;though it is not always easy!These bear cubs have proven that they had the capabilities,and skill to live in the wild as bears!We never stop learning,and it will good to continue monitoring these bears, to see how they fare as time goes on;thus far they have certainly proven their capabilities and then some:o)

Lubec while in rehab

peering while nestled in the blackberry patch

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6-12-09 Cub lubec went into rehabilitation (approximately 4 and 1/2 months of age)

"Bur Cub" 8-15-10 in a beech tree at SCWI

8-16-10 Bur was released with a satellite collar,ear tagged,weight 44lbs.

Michael attaching cable to power supply-fuse box

More Bear data/records

Monitor Camera on bur when in den box

Updated Link: 2011 bear den study yearling report (100% Female Yearling Survival (17/17) Males, 15/26 (58%))

Bur cub's winter den check on 1-10-11 (Downeast)

Weight 30 lbs

Bear data/records,biology....Neonatal bear cub care...

10cc fast balance GI 3x daily

Bur was in the: DownEast Study

NEW NEWS :o) CAMERAS FOR MONITORING ARE IN! (TOTAL COST=$4,009.55) THIS WILL HELP GREATLY FOR : OBSERVING BEAR; HEALTH,BEHAVIOR,DEVELOPMENT WHEN IN REHABILITATION..

10 oz. neonatal cub Patten 1-3-07

This a baby cub that was rehabilitated back in 2007

Dawn attaching cable to monitor camera

Preparing to hook up more cameras for monitoring Bear cub Behavior

Keeping wild animals in need of rehabilitation WILD! Time gives experience,and teaches much on what to do ,and what not to do. Understanding wild animal behavior allows an animal to have human avoidance behavior (Take note:giving them space,leaves them not wanting anything to do with you=(avoidance),and in turn makes it aware to them that you want nothing to do with them either=keeping them wild.Though some wildlife rehabilitators may have a bit different view on this issue than I...to me, it is what seems to be working best over the long haul of experience.(I keep records,and believe it is critical to understanding what may be in the best interest of the animal.After the rehabilitation process,it is helpful when animals can be monitored by biologist so we know what is working & what is not.

Check out the Videos! Bur cub went into the 3 acre pen on: 7-18-10 he immediately went 50 feet up into an oak tree.He has very good bear cub behavior! more video coming soon! "Bur" when in the smaller bear pen click here to play video "BUR" the cub has good cub behavior! 4 More video clips of cub "Bur" turn volume up: click here to play video click here to play video click here to play video click here to play video

MAINE MOOSE REHABILITATION:

Young Moose calf arrived on 6-25-10 with good instincts-this calf was orphaned up in Ashland,it had another sibling too,the mother cow was killed/vehicle collision (Nate Gould from the Maine Wildlife Park called, and asked if I would take it into rehabilitation-I said we have facilities and that would be fine : "Moose rehabilitation" I gave this moose calf lambs milk ,and electrolytes too in a dish for 5 days=no bottle,along with browse,moose maintenance. Her continuing feedings consist of: moose maintenance with dry lambs milk powder added,and also browse,water 2Xdaily.She is healthy and growing.Video taken on 7-18-10 (24 days in rehabilitation)

Click onto Video of the "Moose calf in Rehabilitation" This young moose calf has great behavior!

click here to play video " Moose calf in rehabilitation,preparing to return back to the wild!

Moose calf in rehabilitation for 38 days (video taken on 8-1-10) click here to play video click here to play video

MOOSE CALF WAS RELEASED 9-9-10 Moose Calf In Rehab For 77 Days HAd Kept Her Wildlness=Great Moose Calf Behavior!

Moose calf while in rehabilitation

Photo taken 7-4-10 (THIS CALF WAS SUCCESFULLY RELEASED TO THE WILD!)

click here to play video: MOOSE CALF SHOWING GOOD BEHAVIOR ! 72 days in rehab.

Bull moose yearling arrived on : 9-2-10

He is in temporary rehab (HE WAS SUCCESFULLY RELEASED TO THE WILD!)

THIS MOOSE DID WELL,AND WAS RELEASED TO THE WILD!

Keeping human presence to an absolute minimum, and working on his ability to be wild.

click here to play video

While keeeping human presence to an absolute minnimum,this moose yearling has shown fairly good behavior=when appproached he had gotten startled,and would go into the woods On:9-29-10 The yearling bull moose was released.

South Branch Suzie 1-8-11(zoomed in photo)

(there was a substantial amount of hardwood browse growing in the pen)

maple browse

Browse was collected every day for:South Branch Suzie

SouthBranch Suzie Died In Captivity-Necropsy was done showing lung-worm,but I still have not received full necropsy results yet. It would have been nice if Deb Turcotte spokes person from MDIFW could have mentioned some of the successful rehabilitation stats of moose at Second Chance Wildlife Inc. too ,rather than just this story of: South Branch Suzie; that had certainly gained control in the Media for sure!

2 moose had visited Suzie

browsing on the outside of pen

This Moose calf did very well in rehabilitation:)

She went into rehab on: 5-18-11 & was released on September 21,2011

Moose calf did well in rehabilitation

Arrived 6-25-10 (she kept her wild skills in place=very good behavior)

"Coplin" way up in the tree! 3 acre pen 5-18-10

He is doing well=using his skills in the large enclosure,he forages & is still getting supplements.

23 lb yearling arrived 5-11-10 in need of care

Smaller bear pen

Coplin was ear tagged & tattooed

released 6-17-10

The little male yearling bear named "Coplin" went into the 3 acre pen on 5-17-10

The 23 lb yearling was very lethargic for the first couple days. I have been feeding out supplements to help the little one along.I guess it was quite an event for this little bear.He was located up in Rangeley/coplin plantation-John Cochese had called Game warden Reggie Hammond ,and had told him the bear was hanging around for a few days on his porch,and in his barn,and that it seemed hungry.There was quite a bit of food that this bear was getting into.The little bear had been caught eventually with a catch pole;that being a bit of a process in itself,we were told.The little bear had been in the carrier for a while,and then on the road traveling too..by the time we had gone to pick him up in Farmington,the little bear seemed very tired,and under stress.The supplements I have been administering have turned him around completely within a few days. I have been monitoring behavior, and health frequently, making sure everything is okay ;to the best of my ability=whenever we are not at work.I think the peacefulness,and the quiet where we are located has helped the little yearling relax, and heal too.Now that the Little bear "Coplin" seems to be feeling so much better, we had moved him into the 3 acre pen on 5-17-10 ; so he can just be a bear! This little bear will be released once showing a bit of growth, while also gaining more strength;the 3 acre pen will help greatly with this process!

Correspondence from biologist Randy Cross:Most bears that weigh over 20 lbs in the den do survive, by the skin of their teeth maybe, but they usually do make it. 40-50 lbs is closer to the average we've been seeing in recent years. Weight is only a relative measure of body condition - a 25 lber can be a little butterball or a skinny bear. This one appears to be more the latter.6-17-10 Coplin the bear was released back to the wild.He took off into the woods, and disappeared.There were lots of wild strawberries around; everywhere we had looked.On 5-11-10 Coplin weighed 23 lbs on arrival.On 6-17-10 Coplin weighed 48 lbs when released.

Biologist James Hall said the Bear cub was around a residence for about two weeks, no sign of the mother.He said the Cub was feeding in a commercial compost pile and was curled up on the individuals porch and stayed around the house for the entire period.He said the owner called an ADC agent and was concerned about the cub and wanted to know if he caught it would someone take care of it.He also added that the Cub was very tame, could walk right up to it. Not aggressive at all, owner borrowed a catch pole, and enticed the cub with food & the cub came right over .No reported car/bear accidents or known shootings. There are active blueberry fields nearby with bee hives, female could have been shot? The bear was picked up on the Dixie Road in South Lubec. Agent who picked up the cub was Dayrl McCurdy.
-I would like to say thanks to Biologist Tom Schaffer who had first called about the little cub,James Hall,Daryl McCurdy, and all the other folks involved with wanting to help this little bear cub.

This cub is still elusive even in the smaller pen,the only reason I am even able to get a photo is because it hides in the log whenever it hears something; I am able to take a quick photo at the entrance of the log.Just recently when there was a break in the weather,and while also outgrowing the hollow log; cub lubec is foraging, and resting in the blackberry patch. When the little cub goes into the large facility It will more difficult to monnitor its behavior, health...for it hides so much of the time.(Need more monitor cameras) If there was more than one cub in rehabilitation at this time, odds are they would be in the larger pen because I believe there would probably be a bit more visible cub activity.I am going to give this cub just a bit longer before the big move into the large pen, by also preventing any worries of any possible escape i,e, I have had very young cubs in the large pen prior, but they were raised from neonates and were larger than cubs in the wild (Biologist Randy Cross said Maine Cubs in the wild in June can weigh anywhere from 12 lbs to 17 lbs.) Cubs I had started in rehab from neonates had weighed in the month of June were 36 lbs & 38 lbs big difference! These cubs were in the larger pen at a much younger age,as you will see if you view the website-these same cubs in the month of March weighed 13 lbs.

A Note To The General Public:Bears will end up in your yard, near your home, or if you are camping; bears could possibly show up at your campsite:DO NOT FEED THE BEARS! Bear rehabilitation carries out a process of some supplemental feeding that may be necessary to help bear cubs,and/or yearlings that may be malnourished,and also when cubs may become orphaned,and may need just a bit of a boost in the beginning to help grow and develop properly. Here at Second Chance Wildlife a large % of a bears diet consist of what they would consume in the WILD! Keeping bears wild,and preventing conflicts between bears and people is crucial.If the general public ever comes across a wild animal that they feel may be in need of help/immediate care;do not go near it ! Call a Wildlife biologist and/or Game warden, Animal control officer, or a licenced Wildlife Rehabilitator who specializes in bears to help assess the situation, and make sure the animal is in need of care to begin with."If You Care Leave Them There" This little cub was in need of rehabilitation for it is believed to have been orphaned,little cub is doing very well! He goes into the hollow log, and hides when I go to feed him some supplements that are needed at this time.This cub is also forging in the smaller of the two pens, and has dug at the logs diligently,it also has made a couple day beds,and has runways through the blackberry bushes, this cub seems to have good cub behavior-the pen is thick with blackberry bushes,dandelion greens,grasses, small trees/logs... giving the little cub great cover.The cub just needs to do a bit of growing (Supplemental feeding consist of e.g. esbilac milk formula,puppy chow in a dish,fruit, while also foraging on greens,larvae....) bear cubs in the wild are weaned at approximately 5 months age from the mother sow.In rehabilitation I work on weaning cubs much earlier from the bottle.This little cub seems pretty content and docile while in the natural environment that is helping that exsposes the cub to use its skills that are in place.t would be a bit better if there was another cub for cub "lubec" to be with while in rehabilitation,but I am happy to say little growing Lubec seems to have good cub skills for being a single cub. I hope to be able to have the cub go into the 3 acre bear pen soon;then it will have the opportunity to climb tall trees,swim,forage on a variety of natural feed;letting me have an oppertunity to monitor the cubs potential skills,and behavior prior to release.On rainy days Cub Lubec has been in his log for the most part -the rainy weather has put a damper on him exploring...rain ,rain go away and come back another day!!! I have noticed that the cub has been dragging grasses into the log;making it a bit more comfortable,while adding more camouflage at the entrance of the hollow log.(good behavior).When the rain subsides you can see where the cub's activity is visible throughout the pen.(little cub territory)

Cub has been scratching at loggs!

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You can see where the cub made a day bed when not raining!

(3-19-08) 2 year old ice in her winter den

biologist had monitored her with a GPS collar

From left to right: Biologist Randy Cross,Dominic Grenier,Kendall "Hoss" Marden & Dave"Cap" Pert.

Lubec in 3 acre pen photo 10-11-09

Released into the wild on 10-16-09

This three acre bear rehabilitation/temporary sanctuary pen gives bears an opportunity to just be bears; while also preparing them to return to the wild ! Having a chance to monitor bear behavior has been rewarding -the learning never ends.

Bears that have been cared for at Second Chance Wildlife , Inc. Will eventually be released back to the wild,and then monitored with the help of the MDIFW bear study (Much Thanks!)Working together only enhances knowledge . Bears make a living packing on calories for survival! A bears diet consist of : vegetation, nuts -i.e., acorns, hazel,Beech.. a variety of berries, also larvae, ants, beehives.. amphibians, small/large mammals -carrion/rotted meat. Mature bears have been known to kill fawns and even moose calves; Bears are opportunist!

The cubs in this beautiful three acre pen. I must say these cubs had many abilities at a very young age. They were climbing trees, walking in the snow, and swimming, at a bit over three months of age. I noticed that by exposing the cubs to the wild elements at a very young age that they have unbelievable capabilities,and natural instincts in place! I too noticed that from having them from a neonatal stage and having had to bottle feed every 2-4 hrs in the beginning of their development; my presence made them feel secure and safe, but as far as them learning skills once they were exposed to the natural habitat enclosure; I was then more of an observer than a teacher. The cubs did not need me to teach them how to swim, climb trees, or forage. Were the cubs scared when they were 50-60 feet up in a tree ? Yes! But they got down on their own without any help, and soon had no fear what-so-ever. As cubs I exposed them to a variety of natural foods. I ground acorns and hazelnuts, berries, larvae, and greens and mixed it in their formula. Not sure if this helped them to forage or not. I believe it would come naturally to them. I continue to learn from this incredible species. In the wild, when cubs are with mother sow the biggest thing she does is protect and teach them to be cautious. A huge part of survival! In rehabilitation, cubs are not experiencing the same "dangers" that they would while in the wild with mother. Their innate survival skills are developed within our large natural enclosure. I have seen the cubs get startled and go way up in a tree (this is great human avoidance behavior). Some cubs are better at this than others. All have unique "animalities".Over time we will learn the most beneficial time to release bears (i.e., cubs or yearlings during active season or den season). We do the best we can and hope for successful release.

Cubs like Lubec that had been with the mother sow for a period of time i.e.,4+ months;he had held onto very wild traits/instincts, making an earlier release very promising for him (late summer? ,but fall/autumn release worked well)

Very young neonatal cubs in rehab;I believe from experience should either go into a den with a surrogate sow/ if the option is available, or be released into a pre-made winter den/or den box the following year,or be released at 16 months typical dispersement from the mother sow in the wild.The reasoning for a later release? is because I have come to the conclusion that if a bear sow cannot be found for surrogation the neonates ,then the next best option is for neonatal cubs to stay in rehabilitation longer, so that they can actually mature mentally,and develop their natural skills within the 3 acre bear natural habitat enclosure.Neonatal cub rehabilitation is difficult from the get-go ,and such young cubs can be imprinted; I continuously observe and document stages of development whenever the opportunity arises,and too look at every option that is accessible to prevent them from becoming habituated to humans.Bear cubs such as Lubec arriving at approximately 4 months, can do very well being released at a younger age; because he had spent a bit of time with his mother in the wild too after exiting the den;this allowing him to gain complete human avoidance,and being very wild from the beginning.Take Note: Though he only weighed 10 lbs on arrival he was exposed to a complete natural environment.My goal is to duplicate this as much as feasibly can be done while cubs are in rehabilitation under my care.

Positive outlook for neonatal cubs:As neonatal cubs develop in a natural environment, such as our bear facilities,they can to a degree of course; eventually develop mentally,and physically similar to bear cubs in the wild ,while gaining good skills, and eventually be released back to the wild successfully i.e.,yearling "Ice" being released into a winter den the following year has proved to be very effective,and had created a successful release; by her spending time out in the wild prior to waking, seems to have been a + too :o)

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5-14-10

23 lb Small bear yearling/ approximately 16 moths old

If you come across an orphaned or injured bear please contact your local Maine Game Warden,and /or biologist..They will asses the situation to see If the bear and/or cub is in need of care,and will hopefully contact Second Chance Wildlife, Inc. Bear rehabilitation,research & release. Dispatch Centers:

Gray
1-800-228-0857

Augusta
1-800-452-4664

Orono
1-800-432-7381

Houlton
1-800-924-2261

Dover-Foxcroft
1-800-432-7372

7-4-10 BUR the cub doing well!