For many people, going on a hike means enjoying a peaceful time in nature, whether with friends or alone.
While you might cross paths with a few animals also enjoying the outdoors, it is rare to stumble upon something as remarkable as what one hiker experienced.
Unusual Discovery
While hiking on a foothill of the Olympic Mountains in western Washington, a man named Jonathan Evison noticed something that sparked his curiosity.
Resting alone at the base of a tree and completely coated in mud was an odd little ball of black fuzz.
Drawn by curiosity, the hiker moved closer. As he approached, the realization of what he was looking at left him stunned.
The small ball of fur was actually a bear cub.
Since Jonathan, a New York Times bestselling author, lives in this part of Washington and hikes there daily, he has seen plenty of bears before. But he had never come across a tiny cub on its own.
Knowing he should not interfere because the cub’s mother was probably nearby, Jonathan decided to continue on, hoping the pair would soon be reunited.
A Familiar Face
The next morning, Jonathan followed his daily routine and hiked the same trail. When he reached the spot where he had seen the cub, it was gone. Assuming the cub had found its mother, Jonathan felt relieved.
But as he went farther along the trail, he heard strange noises.
Just a few feet from the path, the same cub from the day before was crying out for help, trapped beneath a fallen tree limb. This time, Jonathan knew he needed to act.
“I knew I had to help the little fella,” Jonathan told The Dodo.
Jonathan gently lifted the branch, freeing the cub. Overjoyed to be rescued and even more excited to see a familiar face, the cub decided to follow his rescuer home.
“Once I freed him, he basically attached himself to me, so I walked a mile back to the cabin with the cub either right on my heels or clinging to my ankle,” he said.
Realizing he could not simply keep a bear, Jonathan reached out for help.
Help Arrives
After calling the West Sound Wildlife Shelter, he was advised to bring the cub to them so it could receive the proper care.
When the cub arrived, the staff immediately gave it food and water, then performed a thorough checkup to see if it had any injuries.
Once the exam showed the cub was perfectly healthy, it was transferred to PAWS Animal Welfare Society.
Since PAWS was already caring for another orphaned cub, the staff knew the two would feel much safer together as they adjusted to their new surroundings.
The cubs will remain at the PAWS facility until a team of experts decides what is best for their future.
Whatever the decision, it will give them the chance to live the healthy and happy life they deserve.