In photos: Wildlife rescuers rally together to help bear family trapped in storm drain
When it comes to rescuing wildlife from hairy situations, it’s all in a day’s work for the Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police. The team recently got called out to a residential neighbourhood in Simsbury where a family of bears appeared to be trapped in a storm drain. It was initially thought that the mama bear and her two cubs were purposefully seeking relief from the heat of the day until it became evident that they couldn’t get out.
Wildlife rescuers had to step in to assist a family of bears that became trapped in a storm drain. Image © Libby Lord Photography
It is unclear how the bear trio got into the storm drain, but a full-blown rescue mission was quickly set in motion. With assistance from the Simsbury Police Department, Simsbury town crews, as well as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the conservation police launched a well-coordinated rescue effort. With the street blocked off, the team removed storm drain covers and arranged for delivery of a 10-foot wooden beam which was lowered into the drain.
A wooden beam was lowered into the storm drain to serve as a makeshift ladder for the bears. Image © Libby Lord Photography
The team stepped back and encouraged the bears to climb up the makeshift ladder by mimicking the sound of bear cubs calling. After some time, mama bear poked her head out to survey her surroundings before climbing out and helping her cubs do the same. The family of three were finally free and took off towards some nearby trees.
After some coaxing, the bears clambered out of the drain. Image © Libby Lord Photography
Mama bear surveyed the surroundings before ushering her cubs out of the drain. Image © Libby Lord Photography
The work carried out by groups such as the Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police is vital in minimising the impact human infrastructure can have on wildlife and the environment. With the help of the local community and wildlife rescuers, this trio of bears lived to see another day.
Once free from the drain, all three of the bears made their way to a nearby woodland. Image © Libby Lord Photography
Top header image: Dan Hutcheson, Flickr