LAKE VIEW TERRACE : 2 Black Bear Cubs Arrive at Wildlife Facility

Cinnamon and Kachina, two female black bear cubs, are among the newest residents of the Wildlife Waystation, a rescue, rehabilitation and relocation facility for wild and exotic animals in the mountains above Lake View Terrace.

The 3-month-old cubs, weighing in respectively at 15 and 30 pounds, were brought to the facility by separate private owners, one from Oregon, the other from Minnesota.

Martine Colette, president and founder of the Wildlife Waystation, said she is delighted to have two cubs come in at once. “They will have good companionship, and they’ll grow up being real bears,” she said.

Since the bears were born in captivity, they can never be released into the wild, according to California state law. Therefore, these babies will join the 800 other permanent wildlife residents at the facility, where there are three other black bears.

Cinnamon and Kachina are expected to live up to 40 years, and when fully grown will weigh 200 to 300 pounds, said Colette.

Kachina was inadequately fed by her original owners and, as a result, has a severe calcium-deficiency problem that has her in and out of the orthopedic veterinarian’s office, Colette said. Kachina has to wear a half-body cast to keep her bones from breaking.

When Cinnamon was brought in, she was dirty, which Colette said indicates the cub may have been mistreated. “Animals, when they get good care, stay clean,” she said.

But at the Wildlife Waystation, there’s no chance of their not receiving enough attention. Colette had a 400-square-foot cage built for the cubs, where they scamper about, playing with their stuffed toys and a little red wagon.

Every day, the bears eat at least three bowls of nutrient-rich bear chow mixed with yogurt, and for a special treat, berries.

Although the little bears are adorable, Colette warns that they are far from tame. “When bears bite, they bite down to the bone,” she said. “Even the babies.”

Meanwhile, the bears have become the stars of the Wildlife Waystation, drawing oohs and ahs from visitors and staff alike. Benches had to be set up around the cage to accommodate all of their fans, said Jan Brown, the facility’s outreach representative.