Another black bear cub has found a temporary home at the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI) after it was found injured on the side of a highway near Grand Cache on July 7. Brandy Gienger, who rescued the cub and named her Maskwa, meaning bear in Cree, said she knew the cub needed medical assistance and drove her straight to the CEI. “I got a call that there was an injured cub on the highway. I went to go check it out and that’s where the mom and cubs were,” Gienger said, who works at an animal shelter. “We pulled up super close, pretty much on top of her (Maskwa) and scooped her up and pulled her in.” Maskwa is the second cub allowed to be admitted to the CEI for rehabilitation since April when the province lifted the ban on rehabilitating black bear cubs. For 10 years prior, injured or orphaned cubs would have been put down. Gienger is credited for rescuing a grizzly bear cub – an endangered species – back in May though the province had it put down since the ban lift does not apply to grizzlies. “Initially, it was believed (Maskwa) may have also been poisoned ... she was unable to hold her head up when she first arrived,” said Lisa Dahlseide of the CEI. “However, once in care she quickly responded positively and within a week was doing much better. She likely suffered a severe concussion upon her injury.”
