Rescued California bear cub recovering from burns

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (AP) — An injured black bear cub is recovering after being rescued by a firefighter. The cub nicknamed “Li’l Smokey” by his rescuer was found Thursday in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest west of Redding. A Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman says the cub is doing well after being plucked from the hot ashes of a wildfire. He was treated for dehydration, burns on his paws and a cut to his left eye. The 6-month-old cub is now recovering at a nonprofit wildlife care and rehabilitation center in South Lake Tahoe. Officials say they hope to release Li’l Smokey back into the wild early next year. The cub’s mother was not... [read full story]