Cottonwood Rehab in Española has been caring for a malnourished bear cub found in February in a dumpster in Red River. Initially, the bear was taken in by New Mexico Game and Fish (NMGF).
The bear weighed only 11 pounds when he should have weighed at least 120 pounds at the time it was taken in by the NMGF. In a statement to the Questa del Rio News, officials from Cottonwood Rehab believe the bear was separated from his mother as the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fires raged across Northern New Mexico last year.

The bear is no longer in intensive care and is improving little by little each day. Officials at Cottonwood Rehab have named the bear Dawn, because it took three hours with a half a bottle of Dawn dish soap to clean him up. The Land of Enchantment Wildfire Foundation expects to release the bear back into the wild this fall.

To make a donation to assist with the bear’s continued care, visit lewf.org.