Orphaned Bear Cubs Becoming An Expensive Problem For Bear Rehabilitator Ben Kilham

Over the past 20 winters, Ben Kilham has had, on average, three to five orphaned cubs hibernating in an enclosure near his home, deep in the woods behind Holt's Ledge.

But, this year, he is caring for a record 27 orphaned bear cubs who will not go to sleep.

Orphaned bear cubs usually sleep in the winter in an enclosure like this, but there's not much slumbering going on this winter at Kilham's in Lyme. Kilham, who is licensed by the state to rehabilitate bears and return them to the wild, has a record 27 orphaned cubs to care for this winter, and is being eaten out of house and home as they stay active in winter.

Now at about 50 pounds, one of the "Moultonborough Twins" orphaned this past year checks out a snack left by Kilham in his Lyme sanctuary.

This orphaned female is living in a doghouse in the rafters along with six others and has not gone to sleep, yet. She is the newest member of the group of 27 who have found their home for the winter at the sanctuary.

These are the two little females that Ben took in from Massachusetts. They only weighed about 2.5 lbs. and should have been in the 10 lb. range.

 Monty Slothie 