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Wildlife Center of Virginia ‘optimistic’ about new home for black bears

Posted at 4:11 PM, May 15, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-15 16:13:32-04

WAYNESBORO, Va. (WTVR) – The president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro said he was extremely optimistic that good homes have been found for two bears stolen from the wild as cubs.

Wildlife Center president Ed Clark said he hoped to make an official announcement in a week or so.

He said only accredited zoos and wildlife sanctuaries were considered for the bears.

The bears, one male and one female, are each 16-months old. Neither is afraid of humans since they were raised as pets.

“This is ridiculous, this is an animal that just wants to be close to people, that is not natural behavior,” Clark told CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit.

Wildlife officials picked up the cubs last year from people who stole them from the wild. They were “treated like a pet, kept in the house around the family, the dogs, whatever,” Clark said.