Some days start off completely ordinary until something unexpected changes everything.
It was a quiet morning at a Colorado hospital. Staff moved through their routines, unaware that something unusual was about to unfold.
It began with a few curious glances in the St. Francis Hospital parking lot. A faint sound. A small movement. Something that didn’t quite belong. Then someone looked closer and saw a tiny, trembling figure hidden in the shadows.
No one knew what it was or how it got there. But one thing was clear. The small creature needed help.
A Surprising Discovery
When hospital staff finally laid their eyes on the animal, they could hardly believe what they were seeing. The tiny cub was crouched against the concrete, shaking and trying to disappear into the corner.
A security guard quickly realized it needed help and called Colorado Parks and Wildlife. That call set off a rescue no one at the hospital would ever forget.
Wildlife manager Aaron Berscheid arrived soon after and began searching the area. For a while, there was nothing but quiet parking spaces and morning light.
Then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement near the building. Two dark eyes peeked through a narrow gap, filled with fear.
“When I got closer, I realized how small it was,” Berscheid told The Dodo. The cub was alone, confused, and hiding from a world it didn’t understand.
Berscheid had seen bears wander into neighborhoods near Colorado Springs before but never a cub this young by itself in such an unexpected place. It had tucked itself tightly into a corner, desperate for safety.
“The bear was definitely scared and nervous,” he added. “Just kind of tucked up in there with sad puppy dog eyes.”
A Gentle Rescue
Berscheid and fellow wildlife manager Demetria Wright worked patiently to help the frightened cub. They spoke in a gentle voice, careful not to scare it away. Before long, they managed to lift it to safety and carry it to their vehicle.
At the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, the team gave the cub a full check-up. To their relief, it had no serious injuries, but it was severely underweight.
“It ended up weighing 22 pounds, which is very small for this time of year,” Berscheid explained. He suspected it might have been the runt of its litter, left behind when it couldn’t keep up.
After resting and rehydrating, the cub was transported to Frisco Creek Animal Care Center, where wildlife experts would help it regain its strength. Human contact would be kept to a minimum so it could stay wild and eventually return to its natural home.
Thanks to the quick action of hospital staff, wildlife officers, and rehabilitators, the tiny cub now has a second chance to grow stronger, heal fully, and one day roam free again when spring arrives.