All the resources needed for the care and rescue of injured or orphaned wild animals.
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Our feature is the Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. in Altha, Florida. Betsy Knight tells us about her group's special creatures.
The picture below of two big baby cubs was taken by John R. Zinn, Jr.
 Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization, founded in 1988, with two purposes: Wildlife Rehabilitation and Wildlife Education. We accept all native wildlife and do our best to return as many as possible to the wild from whence they come. My Black Bear Permit is the only one in Florida. I begged for many years to attempt to rehabilitate Florida Black Bears. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission felt there was nowhere in Florida where a bear could be placed where it would not come in contact with humans. The scientists, at that time, felt hand raised cubs would only become nuisance bears. It was my contention that if the cubs were fed their natural diets, as much as possible, and if they were kept away from the public, that they could be successfully raised and returned to the wild.
The picture below of two 5 pound baby cubs was taken by Dairy Kane.
In 1985, the right biologist was in the right place when two cubs became available, and I was allowed to
attempt to raise and release the twins. The rest is history. Our 30th cub
was released in December, 1999. Although several of those I have raised and
released have been killed (three by hunters in legal bear hunts--legal bear
hunting ended in 1993, thank God; one by a larger bear; and one was a road
kill, the others, as far as we know, have lived happily in the National
Forests as they should.
Not all the bear cubs I have raised have been
Florida cubs--I raised 2 for Georgia, 4 for Arkansas, and 1 for Louisiana.
Not all the bears have been cubs--several have been injured by vehicles (one
left us weighing 400 lbs.!)
This picture of two 5 lb. baby cubs was taken by Dairy Kane.
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