Barnabas (B-Bear), American Black Bear

Barnabas, formerly B-Bear, is a 24-year-old male American black bear who was rehomed with us from another sanctuary, which will focus on rehabilitating native wildlife moving forward. Initially a victim of the pet trade, this sanctuary rescued him from a 10 x 10 cage in someone’s front yard in Iowa. As we see far too often, his former owners declawed and defanged him to reduce their risk of injury when entering a small space with this mighty bear. This has left him with painful arthritis in his paws and some difficulty eating, though he doesn’t let this keep him from foraging or playing! Here at BPAS, we have placed him on pain management medications and ensure his diet consists of smaller pieces and softer foods to live as comfortably as possible. He enjoys his new surroundings and loves swimming and soaking in his pool!