"Sugar Bear" To Join Three Other Rescued Bears In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA, September 01, 2012 (Press-News.org) A black bear named "Sugar Bear" is the most recent addition to the Lions, Tigers and Bears sanctuary (LTB) located in Alpine, Calif. The rescue bear joined three other black bears, two of whom, "Delilah" and "Blossom," were recently rescued by the non-profit's founder, Bobbi Brink, when she drove to Oklahoma to save them from being placed into a game ranch. Sugar Bear came to the sanctuary by way of an unaccredited sanctuary in Ohio that closed down due to a lack of funding.

"I would have loved to bring home more bears from Ohio, but all we currently have room for is Sugar Bear," said Bobbi Brink, Founder and Director of Lions, Tigers and Bears. "There are so many more who need to be rescued, but we can only take in as many animals that we can safely accommodate on the property."

Since arriving at the LTB ranch, Sugar Bear has been neutered, had a dental check up and is adjusting to his own "bedroom" in the habitat. He is being closely monitored and kept in quarantine until he is ready to meet the other rescue bears, a process known as "natural integration." Caretakers believe that he is slow to leave the room since, for the past five years he has known only the concrete floor and small surroundings of his cage. He is not used to the sun or dirt and will have to slowly adjust to life in a natural habitat. In order to slowly coax him out, food trails are being used to lead him into the bear habitat.

The three other rescue bears, "Delilah," "Blossom" and "Liberty" (who was brought to the sanctuary on July 4, 2010, hence her name), have been curiously approaching his enclosure. As the adjustment period continues, LTB will let Sugar Bear explore the habitat on his own, before meeting the other bears. This will allow him to get accustomed to his new surroundings, which includes four acres of trees, caves, scratching posts and a large water pond. After he has adjusted to the habitat, all four bears will roam the habitat together.

In addition, Brink is currently working to place six black bears from another sanctuary in Ohio that are in danger of being euthanized because they have nowhere else to go, but she needs more funding to build habitats for the animals.

Lions Tigers & Bears is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501(c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for unwanted and abused animals. For more information about Sugar Bear, to arrange for a visit, or to become a member of the Lions, Tigers and Bears community, please visit: http://www.lionstigersandbears.org or call: 619-659-8078.

About Lions, Tigers and Bears
Lions, Tigers & Bears (LTB) is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501 (c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for unwanted and abused exotic cats and other exotic animals. LTB is a NO KILL, NO BREED and NO SELL facility that allows cats in its care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment. LTB's goal is to provide a safe haven to rescued exotics and to educate the public about the growing population of abandoned and unwanted exotic animals. LTB is one of few sanctuaries in the United States with the highest level of accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

For more information or to make a donation to help care for the animals at LTB, please visit http://www.lionstigersandbears.org or call (619) 659-8078.