At a wildlife center in southern California, an orphaned black bear receives very unconventional care. His caregivers wear masks and fur coats to simulate his species, in order to prevent the bear cub from getting used to human contact.
The cub was found in the Los Padres National Forest with signs of malnutrition. Although attempts were made to return him to nature to reunite him with his mother, there was no response, and he was transferred to a specialized center near San Diego.
There, the team feeds him and plays with him using costumes impregnated with the scent of real bears. He even has a huge stuffed animal that acts as a reference “mother,” to which he goes to sleep or calm down when he gets scared.
The interactions are carefully designed to promote wild behaviors. Recently, the bear cub learned to search for insects, climb trees, and explore his environment autonomously.
Caregivers disguised as bears. Photo: San Diego Animal Protection Society via AP.
Animal Care without Human Contact
The ultimate goal is to reintroduce the orphaned black bear cub into the wild next year, once he can survive without depending on people. Previously, similar techniques were successfully used with other animals such as coyotes and foxes, also raised by disguised humans.
This emerging methodology aims to avoid human “imprinting”, meaning that animals identify with humans rather than their own species, which is crucial for their natural survival.
In the last five years, only four bear cubs have gone through this process in California. If another orphaned cub appears, they could pair it to reinforce its socialization without direct human intervention.
Meanwhile, the little bear continues to grow and gain key skills. If all goes well, his story of loss and adaptation will have a happy ending in the forests he once lost.
Bear cub in the wild. Photo: Leonoticias.
Benefits of Care without Human Contact
Caring for wild animals without direct human contact helps preserve their natural behavior. By preventing them from getting used to people, the risk of them seeking human settlements once reintroduced into their habitat is reduced.
This technique also improves their chances of survival, as they learn to hunt, hide from threats, and recognize their environment as they would in nature. The lack of human dependence strengthens their instincts and autonomy.
Additionally, it prevents future conflicts with humans, especially in large or potentially dangerous species like bears or coyotes. An animal that doesn’t associate people with food or affection is less likely to approach inhabited areas.
Finally, this method favors long-term conservation, as it allows animals to return to their ecosystem without altering the natural balance or posing a danger to themselves or nearby communities.
