A black bear cub named Valkyrie, rescued with severe burns near Dawson Creek, B.C., is recovering at a sanctuary in Smithers and may be released in June.
Bear Cub Rescued After Severe Burns in B.C.
A black bear cub, rescued after suffering severe burns last December, will be introduced to other bears at a sanctuary in Smithers, B.C.
Rescuers reported that the bear was burned while hibernating in a slash pile near Dawson Creek, B.C. It suffered serious burns on its feet, face, and back.
The Northern Lights Wildlife Society was alerted to the bear cub and took it into care on December 20.
Current Status of the Bear Cub
Angelika Langen, manager and co-founder of the society, stated that the bear, named Valkyrie, has settled in but will need several more weeks of treatment. While her face is healing well, the cub’s paws require more time. They are bandaged with creams to promote healing and prevent infection.
“We’re really happy with her progress. We finally found a way, with the help of some duct tape, to keep the bandages on her, and that really helps in the healing process,” Langen told CBC’s Radio West.
Valkyrie is last year’s cub, born in January or February 2025. She will be slowly introduced to other bears in their care and could be released back into the wild in June.
Rescue Details
Langen mentioned that the bear was first spotted curled up on a road in the Dawson Creek area. The society was alerted because the cub was in rough shape.
“We kind of thought that the animal was just hypothermic,” she said. “And we had no idea that there were other issues.”
“When we did the first intake exam it became apparent that, actually, it was burnt.”
Volunteers transported Valkyrie to Prince George and then to Smithers after warming her up in a box. The journey took nine hours in total.
Cause of the Injuries
Langen explained that it is common for hibernating bears to make dens in human-made piles of plant debris intended for burning. She suspects Valkyrie made a den in a slash pile that was then set on fire by someone unaware of the bear inside.
After the incident, the bear faced extremely cold winter weather, with temperatures dropping from –24 C to –34 C the night after her rescue.
“She was really lucky to be found, because she wouldn’t have survived,” Langen said.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bear Name | Valkyrie |
| Rescue Date | December 20 |
| Location of Rescue | Dawson Creek, B.C. |
| Current Location | Smithers, B.C. |
| Expected Release | June |
| Temperature Range | –24 C to –34 C |
