Arthur

was a wild black bear who had been living in a culvert on the Sierra Star golf course in Mammoth, California, and had been captured by the California Department of Fish & Game after reports that he had been seen hobbling on three legs. He arrived at PAWS on March 5, 2002, after treatment by Fish & Game and UC Davis veterinarians. He is enjoying his grassy area complete with a hot tub, pine trees and honeysuckle vines. He loves food and can be easily coaxed with grapes, apples and oranges (his favorite food so far). Arthur is another sad victim of human encroachment

Boo Boo

was born at a breeder facility and sold as a pet. He was taken from his mother at approximately two weeks old--this is a very young age considering the baby in the wild will stay with the mother for at least four months. The owners locked a chain around his neck, then lost the key. The owners could not afford a vet to remove the chain. As Boo Boo matured, the chain grew into his neck 1 1/2 inches. A concerned woman purchased him from the family and paid for a vet to remove the chain. Today Boo Boo is happy at his new home at PAWS and shares and enclosure with Winston, another Black Bear.

Cinnamon

arrived along with three other bears, Sampson, Oma and Scarface, from the Houston SPCA where she had been temporarily housed after authorities confiscated them from a series of horrendous conditions. Prior to their rescue, all four of the bears were featured as part of a tiny drive-through roadside exhibit. The owner of the dilapidated facility was cited for numerous violations and the animals were impounded.

Cinnamon arrived at PAWS in July of 2003 along with her three friends.

Cindy

Captured by the California Department of Fish & Game when her mother was killed, Cindy was kept at their Rancho Cordova facility until a suitable home could be found for her. Cindy was brought to PAWS in December, 1998. She currently enjoys a spacious enclosure and a pool.

Jack

In the midst of filming a new television series about our sanctuary we received a call from a regulatory agency asking us to take a bear who would soon be euthanized if a suitable home could not be found within a few weeks. Unfortunately, there was no place to put another bear and no funds available to build anything for him in the short time allocated to his rescue. However, we agreed to try to find a way to take him.

PAWS veterinarian went to see Jack and made an exceptional appeal on his behalf, advising PAWS directors, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, to rescue him, if possible.

After much planning and consulting, Pat and Ed decided to move Sosha, one of our sweetest cougars, to a large wolf run which was uninhabited and remodel Sosha’s habitat for Jack. Since Sosha is quite gregarious and enjoys company, the move would give Sosha more exposure to human companions and provide a secluded shelter for Jack.

The television crew filmed Sosha’s very successful move to new quarters and the renovation of his habitat to accommodate the new bear. A highlight of the filming was the construction of a swimming pool for Jack which was engineered by interns from the television show.

When Jack arrived, Pat and Ed thought he looked different from most black bears. They have since learned that DNA testing was conducted by the agency to gain more information about his history, which concluded that he is certainly unusual and very appealing. Welcome home Jack.

Oma

arrived along with three other bears, Sampson, Cinnamon and Scarface, from the Houston SPCA where she had been temporarily housed after authorities confiscated them from a series of horrendous conditions. Prior to their rescue, all four of the bears were featured as part of a tiny drive-through roadside exhibit. The owner of the dilapidated facility was cited for numerous violations and the animals were impounded. Oma arrived at PAWS in July of 2003 along with her three friends.

Sampson

arrived along with three other bears, Cinnamon, Oma and Scarface, from the Houston SPCA where she had been temporarily housed after authorities confiscated them from a series of horrendous conditions. Prior to their rescue, all four of the bears were featured as part of a tiny drive-through roadside exhibit. The owner of the dilapidated facility was cited for numerous violations and the animals were impounded.

Sampson arrived at PAWS in July of 2003 along with her three friends.

In Memory of Manfried

Along with a Grizzly Bear named Tuffy, Manfried was one of the animal stars of "Legends of the Fall... Iron Will" as well as performing in many commercials and wrestling exhibits. They lived in a small horse trailer, wallowing in their own feces. They were malnourished and suffered from diarrhea and dehydration. PAWS investigated their plight and took a film crew from National Geographic to document their story. Manfried's PAWS home is a 14,000 square foot enclosure with trees and a pool.

Winston

was born at a breeding compound to be a personal pet. He was kept illegally and later confiscated by state officials. While being held, Winston was kept with other, older, bears and suffered a severe bite wound to his right hip. He was treated and eventually placed at PAWS.