Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • West Coast Galleries
      • Nature Photography
      • Wildlife Photography
      • Cityscapes
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Contests
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Service
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • West Coast Galleries
      • Nature Photography
      • Wildlife Photography
      • Cityscapes
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Contests
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Service
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / Wildlife society returns rehabbed BC bears to the wild

Five rehabilitated grizzly bears were released this month into the Bella Coola area. The Northern Lights Wildlife Society will also be delivering 36 black bears to areas across the province where they were previously found. “They’re ready to go and they’re already trying to get out,” says Angelika Langen. “We feel good when we can make that possible and they don’t have to stay behind fences for the rest of their lives.” (Northern Lights Wildlife Society Facebook photo)

Wildlife society returns rehabbed BC bears to the wild

June 7, 2021 //  by Rebecca Dyok

Share this:

The Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Smithers is travelling across B.C. this month to deliver rehabilitated bears back into their natural habitats.

Five young grizzlies made their journey back to the Bella Coola area this week, where they were returned by helicopter to the wild.

The grizzlies named Cedar, Muwin, Arthur, Raven and Isa were left orphaned but became the best of friends during their stay at the wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Their mothers were euthanized as a result of attractants.

“We’re the only ones that return rehabbing or rewilding grizzly bears,” said co-founder and current manager Angelika Langen.

“We also now have a scientist that will follow them for what we hope will be five years with the four females, and we’re hoping that during that time all of them or at least some of them will have their own young and total integration into the wild.”

A total of 36 black bears from across the province will also be released in June.

Orphaned sisters Clara and Heidi from the Williams Lake area, as well as Alex from Alexis Creek, were in poor condition when they had arrived at the society last April.

“It’s going to be a real joy to return them into the wild again,” said Langen.

“They always go back to into the communities that they came from because we don’t want to mix genetics, and we don’t want to mess up population numbers of the areas as well.”

Before being released the animals must be healthy, able to climb and not show any inclination to interact with humans.

Langen said it would be this time of year that the young bears — genetically primed to start a life of their own — would naturally leave their mothers.

Read More: Spring time the perfect time for attractant management: COS

The leading cause of death for wild bears is human interaction, while for rehabbed or rewilded bears it is predation.

“We can’t teach them what a cougar is or what another bear can do, and that is a drawback for them, but in the end it’s about 51 per cent that survive, and that’s the same when they’re leaving their mother,” Langen said.

As of the end of May, eight bears were already in the care of the animal rescue, as well as a porcupine, a few squirrels and a baby moose that was rescued from drowning in a river near Prince George.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer volunteers for the Northern Lights Wildlife Society that would typically attract in-person help from around the world.

“We’re looking forward to things getting back to more normal again,” Langen added.


Do you have a comment about this story? email:
rebecca.dyok@wltribune.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: bears, Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

13 of the most surreal places to visit in the western US

You know those places that feel so dreamlike that you ask yourself, “Did I just…

13 of the most surreal places to visit in the western USRead More

Ancient species spotted along Trail shoreline offers hope for Upper Columbia sturgeon

What could be greater than a lunchtime stroll along the Trail Esplanade, with the sunshine…

Ancient species spotted along Trail shoreline offers hope for Upper Columbia sturgeonRead More

Sidney, B.C. museum launches exhibit on ‘most fascinating frontier’: space

A southern Vancouver Island museum invites you to explore the reaches of space with a…

Sidney, B.C. museum launches exhibit on ‘most fascinating frontier’: spaceRead More

Cloverdale heritage railway rolling out 2nd annual music festival

Surrey’s heritage railway is off to a busy start. The historic rail line in the…

Cloverdale heritage railway rolling out 2nd annual music festivalRead More

Crossing the Canada-U.S. border this summer? CBSA shares tips for a smooth trip

If you’re planning to cross the Canadian border during this summer travel season, the Canada…

Crossing the Canada-U.S. border this summer? CBSA shares tips for a smooth tripRead More

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest transitioning to cashless collections on June 21

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will transition to primarily cashless collections for day and annual…

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest transitioning to cashless collections on June 21Read More

5 ways to take an affordable family vacation this summer

You want to create memories and have a great time with your family this summer.…

5 ways to take an affordable family vacation this summerRead More

48 hours in Nelson, B.C.: Trails, taps and laid-back charm

I rolled into Nelson on a warm Friday morning, welcomed by a mix of fresh…

48 hours in Nelson, B.C.: Trails, taps and laid-back charmRead More

Brick-by-brick, stories beyond the history come alive in Kelowna this summer

Brick-by-brick, Canadian artist Ekow Nimako re-imagined ancient African kingdoms by building and envisioning a journey…

Brick-by-brick, stories beyond the history come alive in Kelowna this summerRead More

Previous Post: « Want to name the largest sturgeon ever caught by this BC hatchery? Here is your chance!
Next Post: SOAR into spring with these beautiful BC destinations »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

13 of the most surreal places to visit in the western US

June 18, 2025

Ancient species spotted along Trail shoreline offers hope for Upper Columbia sturgeon

June 17, 2025

Sidney, B.C. museum launches exhibit on ‘most fascinating frontier’: space

June 17, 2025

Cloverdale heritage railway rolling out 2nd annual music festival

June 16, 2025

Recent Posts

13 of the most surreal places to visit in the western US

June 18, 2025

Ancient species spotted along Trail shoreline offers hope for Upper Columbia sturgeon

June 17, 2025

Sidney, B.C. museum launches exhibit on ‘most fascinating frontier’: space

June 17, 2025

Cloverdale heritage railway rolling out 2nd annual music festival

June 16, 2025

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • TikTok Icon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved