Bear cub, Rickie, returns to Brevard Zoo months after release
Brevard Zoo bear, Rickie, returns after being released into the wild
Rickie is back home at the Brevard Zoo. This comes after she stayed almost 10 months at the zoo, was released and humans fed her in the wild. Now, Rickie is back, and to stay.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - An orphaned Florida black bear cub that was released back into the wild after being rehabilitated has returned to the Brevard Zoo.
Rickie, the bear, was released last year but has been brought back to the zoo as a permanent resident.
Who is Rickie the bear?
What we know:
Rickie was just six weeks old and 2.5 pounds when she was rescued and brought to the zoo.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP
Florida Fish and Wildlife found her in northern Florida last April after she was separated from her family.
She was the smallest cub the Brevard Zoo had ever cared for, officials said.
Rickie was rehomed to the Brevard Zoo after being released into the wild earlier this year.
After Rickie received a full veterinary checkup, she was taken to the East Coast Zoological Foundation's Black Bear Rehabilitation Center at the zoo.
For the next few months, animal care teams worked to get Rickie ready to be released back into the wild. The team disguised themselves in grille suits and took other measures when delivering Rickie's food to prevent the cub from imprinting on them and becoming too comfortable with humans.
After gaining enough weight and learning key bear behaviors, Rickie was released back into the wild with several other cubs. However, months later, she was brought back to the zoo.
Why was Rickie brought back?
The decision to bring Rickie back was made to prevent any "possible human-bear conflict," according to the zoo.
After being released into the wild in January – weighing 100 pounds – but soon, the zoo was told people became too comfortable around her and began feeding her human food.
Rickie was rehomed to the Brevard Zoo after being released into the wild earlier this year.
"Despite taking every effort to ensure she did not associate humans with food, it was found that Rickie was being offered human food by members of the public during the months following her release," Brevard Zoo said in a social media post.
Zoo officials said bears fed by humans never ends well for the bear – often leading to be euthanized or relocated.
"Feeding a bear is bad for them," the Brevard Zoo's Lauren Hinson said. "They start to acclimate and start to consider humans as people that provide easy food for them."
What's next:
Rickie joins the zoo's other permanent bear residents, including Brody, Betty and Cheyenne. She's being provided life-long care in a safe environment.
Brevard said that of the 17 bears rehabilitated and released, Rickie is the only one that had to be returned to its care.
The Source: This story was written with information shared by the Brevard Zoo.