Three Bear Cubs Found in Cardboard Box on Side of the Road

[joeybee12]

Three bear cubs are on the road to recovery after being discovered in a box on the side of a South Carolina road.

Brandon Poole, a volunteer firefighter, was driving with his family in Long Creek, S.C., last weekend when they saw a cardboard box on the side of the road with what appeared to be puppies, according to local TV station News 13.

Instead, peering out of the box were three tiny bear cubs, two males and one female.

“I thought it was little puppies in that little box, so I got closer to it, I noticed I heard squealing so I thought it was baby pigs,” Poole told News 13. “I got closer and picked one up. It was three baby bears.”

Poole, who could not be reached today by ABCNews.com, told News 13 he drove the bears to his local fire station and turned them over to officials with the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

The three bears were then split up and sent to two different facilities to be rehabilitated. The two male bears were sent to the Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend, Tenn., and the female cub was sent to Charles Towne Landing in Charleston, S.C.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/03/man-discovers-bear-cubs-on-the-side-of-the-road/

[Little Star]

1. OMG They are so cute. Glad someone found them. k&r

[dipsydoodle]

2. That they're safe now

is what matters.

[LeftofObama]

3. Those poor babies!

I wish them well and I hope they have a wonderful rest of their lives.

[freshwest]

4. Odd part of the story is what I wondered. The last paragraph at the link:

Information about how the bears ended up in the box wasn’t immediately available from officials.

I wonder if their mother was the victim of a poacher, a car accident, or if they were abandoned by a private bear owner. Not as if bear moms put their cubs in boxes, for sure. The person who left them there will likely never come forward to answer questions.

Fortunately, a kind hearted person took pity on what he thought were abandoned puppies and the bears may have long lives, now.

[Blue_Tires]

5. I'm thinking hunter/poacher

He probably thought at first he could cash in big, but while on the road realized that the market for bear cubs isn't that big or lucrative, and he'd have a hard time giving an "official" explanation on how he came to own them...

[freshwest]

6. Yes, that might be expensive for him explaining where mama was.

[justiceischeap]

7. Didn't the mama bear know she was supposed to leave them at the fire station

not hope a firefighter would happen upon them?

Glad the babies are safe.

[narnian60]

8. Even though leaving them that way was risky,

I was glad that the person who was involved didn't outright kill them.

[arthritisR_US]

9. I am happy they were rescued but I wish they

hadn't been separated. I feel bad that the little female cub will be alone

[MadrasT]

10. I thought the same thing.

Poor little babies.

At least they're safe.

[arthritisR_US]

11. Bitter sweet

[Aerows]

15. She was in need of immediate care

and that was the closest place that could take care of her. Poor babies .

[arthritisR_US]

17. Ahh, that poor little darling, I hope she makes it.

Good to see you Aerows, I've missed you

[Aerows]

18. You too :)

I hope all is well with you, my friend

[Duppers]

12. I don't understand why ABR in Townsend, TN

...could not take all 3 cubs. It's a great org which I support. Perhaps it's the current expansion they're going thru?

On edit: I read the complete article and now understand that the little female cub needed immediate care.

[joeybee12]

13. I know...when it mentioned only taking the boys it seemed weird...

Until it explained later in the article.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Aww! Such beautiful little angels!

I hope they stay safe and find a good home. I love them so much!

[nolabear]

16. OMG I have the softest spot for little bears. We had a couple in wildlife rehab.

They are such tender little things, and these little ones are SO young, probably not long out of the den. Ach, poor things. They'll live captive, and while it's not horrible under good circumstances, it's not how it was meant to be.

[marmar]

19. It's that no-good Goldilocks.

nt

[lonestarnot]

20. Poor little things. Some shooter prollee felt guilty when he shot their Mom.

Ok, maybe not, but what a cruel thing to do. What if that man had not stopped to see what was inside the box and now the 3 bears are split up! What the fuck is Goldilocks gona do now?