© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

Idaho Black Bear Recovering From Wildfire

Evin Oneale
/
Idaho Department of Fish and Game

The black bear cub - known as Boo Boo - is expected to make a full recovery. The bear was burned in the Mustang Fire north of Salmon. 

Boo Boo could be ready to leave the Idaho Humane Society, where he’s been recovering from his burns, in as little as two weeks.  The three-to-four month old cub has 2nd degree burns on all four of his paws. 

But Evin Oneale with Idaho Fish and Game says those burns are healing nicely and biologists and veterinarians will soon decide where he goes next. “He will definitely go to either a rehab facility, where they’ll probably hold him over winter there is my guess and release him next spring, or if it doesn’t look like he is going to survive in the wild like we’ve hoped, we’ll probably look for a facility that might be able to take him.”

For now, Boo Boo is getting daily treatment and all the food he wants at the Humane Society.  His doctor says he’s “eating like a little pig.”  His diet consists of dog food, vegetables, and fruit.  Donations have been pouring in, though Oneale says they have enough apples right now. Boo Boo apparently loves berries, and Oneale says they could use some more strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries. 

Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.