WATCH ABOVE: Two orphaned bear cubs are safe and warm thanks to the Northern Lights Wildlife Society, and the kindness of many strangers. Linda Aylesworth reports.
VANCOUVER – When Angelika and Peter Langen from the Northern Lights Wildlife Society received a call about two orphaned grizzly cubs in Invermere, they knew their Thanksgiving plans were going to be interrupted.
They set out on Saturday evening from Smithers to pick up the cubs. They were orphaned when their mother was hit by a car and a Conservation Officer found them and tranquilized them before calling the Langens.
WATCH: Extended video of the rescue involving two orphaned grizzly cubs.
There are already 17 black bear cubs at Northern Lights but they knew they needed to make the long drive and pick up the grizzly cubs.
They met with the Conservation Officer just outside of Golden to make the transfer and after a short stop in Revelstoke, they were on their way home.
However, about 30 km outside of the town the Langens had to pull over as the truck was starting to overheat. Angelika called BCAA for a tow but was told they could not come out because they couldn’t transfer the two cubs due to liability issues.
Not knowing what to do, Angelika took to the Northern Lights Facebook page and everyone jumped in to help. Within 30 minutes they were told a truck would pick up them and the two bears.
However, there was no mechanic in Revelstoke until Tuesday due to the long weekend.
So Angelika updated her status again with the news. Golden resident Wendy Chambers found a number for Tom Patry from Grizzly Automotive who not only agreed to fix the truck right away, but also came in early on the Thanksgiving Monday to fix the leaking water pump.
The Langens were also able to find accommodation in a hotel and a place for the cubs when Sari Lundberg from Vancouver offered her parent’s lockable garage in Revelstoke.
Thanks to all the help from their Facebook fans the Langens were able to get their truck fixed and will be on their way home soon.
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