Aldo the Cuddliest Bear Cub: New Guest at Oregon Zoo

Lucky Aldo snuggles with a new friend in the safety of the Oregon Zoo

When a Medford, OR couple found an infant black bear cub abandoned in the woods near their Northwestern home, they wisely called local authorities rather than attempt to care for the furry little guy themselves. “Aldo” he’s being called, is less than a month old and was for a time in the care of the very capable folks up at the Oregon Zoo before taking a trip out to a zoo in Wisconsin who had a need for a new black bear.

Though the temptation to rescue an adorable black bear cub like Aldo must have been too much for the couple who brought the cub in, wildlife officials stress the importance of leaving wild animals in the wild. Remember – most times if you see an adorable baby animal like Aldo out in the wilderness, his or her mother is very probably nearby foraging.

Luckily for little Aldo, and for us who get to see these adorable photos of his recovery in captivity, he really was in need of a rescue, and ended up someplace safe for him to grow up healthy. The bear only weighs a few pounds now but with a good diet as a full-grown adult he could weigh more than 600 lbs. The black bear is the smallest species of bear in North America and is more closely related to Asian bears than to polar and brown bears.