Oso

Oso was born in the Alaskan wilderness. His early days were simple and free, a wild grizzly bear cub wandering the northern back country. But everything changed the day a hunter killed his mother during a spring bear hunt. Orphaned, Oso was taken from his natural home.

He spent his next years traveling with a Canadian circus. Like many performing bears, his claws and front teeth were surgically removed. Little is known about this period of his life but as Oso aged, his days with the circus came to a close and he was sold to a zoo near Sudbury. After a time, the zoo shut down and the owners moved on. When they left, Oso remained behind, trapped in his cage with no food or water. More than three weeks passed before he was found. By then, he was close to death.

Oso was moved to Belleville where he was nursed back to health. After a fire at the facility where he was kept, however, he was sold to a man who kept a personal zoo of captive wild animals. Here, Oso suffered terribly from neglect and his robust frame faded away to less than 136 kilograms (300 pounds). He was emaciated and could barely stand. The Belleville group took him back and searched for a new home. Not many people are willing or able to provide for a mature brown bear whose healthy weight is about 317 kilograms (700 pounds) – Oso had two prospects. Someone offered $2,000 to buy him and profit from the sale of his internal organs. The other offer came from Michael McIntosh.

Michael didn’t offer money, just a promise. His pledge to Oso was a lifetime of tranquility at Bear With Us. Formed in 1992, Bear With Us is a wild bear rehabilitation centre north of Huntsville, accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The sanctuary has reintroduced 100+ orphan bears back to their natural habitat.

Currently, there are 20 black bears who are temporary residents at the sanctuary. These bears are mainly cubs and yearlings orphaned during fall bear hunts. Michael, a licensed rehabilitator, is preparing them for release back to the wild. They have as little contact with humans as possible. Bear With Us is also a haven for three permanent residents, black bears who have endured abuse as circus performers or "pets," a role that is entirely inappropriate for bears. However, like Oso, Fred, Yogi and Molly are all accustomed to people and could never survive as wild bears. Michael gives them plenty of good food and affection. Oso will live out his days in a forested enclosure of just less than half a hectare, or 40,000 square feet, generously provided by The Schad Foundation, which also paid for the wild bears’ rehabilitation area. Never again will Oso be passed from hand to hand like someone’s used car. "He’s been through so much," says Michael. "Yet he’s the most congenial, gentle and friendly animal I’ve ever worked with. Sometimes I sit under a tree near him and just talk to him. He seems so contented."

Is there a bear heaven? Oso passed away on August 17, 2000 at the young age of 15. His life of abuse appears to have affected his heart. A very, very sad day for Mike and everyone who loved Oso.

Statistics

Species - Ursus Arctos - Brown Bear or Grizzly (common name)

Weight - healthy 650 to 750 pounds depending on time of year

Arrival to Bear With Us - October 3, 1997, weight less than 300 pounds.

Oso an ex-circus bear has had an extremely brutal and cruel life at the hands of humans. We owe a great deal of gratitude to Iilah and Tawlia Chickalo for saving Oso's life and making sure he went to Bear With Us.

*This story based on a story that appeared in Animal Voice Summer 2000. Written by Julie Suzanne Pollock, Ontario SPCA Manager, Communications