Black Bear Rescue Manitoba

06/01/2026

It’s June again and day 1 of “30 Smiles for $30” our annual fundraiser for the cubs, and boy do we unfortunately have to fundraise this year….

As many of you know we now have legal costs on top of our regular cub care and operating costs because we’re having to take our local governing body, the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, to court in order to try to save the province’s bear rescue. Council recently voted to approve a new quarry to be started next to us which, due to its incompatibility with a wildlife rescue, would mean the closure of our facility and the end of the safety net for Manitoba’s orphaned cubs. (CTV News story; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CstLqiiX7/?mibextid=wwXIfr).

Future cubs would have no place to go and be left to let nature take its course…..the amount of suffering would be unthinkable. So here we go with our extra-important June fundraiser! 👍

How it works; the challenge for me is to post every day for the month of June (not an easy task!) and try to make you smile……the challenge for you is if at the end of the 30 days I’ve brought you some cheer and made you smile, you’ll consider a $30 donation for the cubs. A win-win!

You can donate from anywhere in the world via our website link below and as a registered charity you’ll receive a tax receipt at year end (or sooner if by Canada Helps or PayPal). Thank you for your help!
https://www.blackbearrescuemanitoba.com/donate

Now on with the show! I’m starting off with someone many of you have asked about and who’s almost unrecognizable now and along with his sisters is thriving……Little Brother of the Balmoral triplets. 💚

~ Judy

05/31/2026

On June 1st get ready for a month of smiles! One smile every day, lots of pics and videos of the cubs…..our annual “30 Smiles for $30” fundraiser kicks off tomorrow! 😁🐻💚

05/30/2026

The “A” cubs who arrived last week from Minnedosa, the smaller sister on the left, big sister on the right.

They’re very timid and not overly playful yet which is always the sign they’re settling in, but their appetites have at least increased from their first few days. Big sister in particular wasn’t eating much due to nerves and little sister has always been out to eat first, but they do both love chopped apples and have their milk after, for dessert.

05/29/2026

Update; thank you everyone who came out, some even from Winnipeg, and for buying a t-shirt, saying hello and having a chat! And especially to Janice who was there all day into the evening in that heat! But she said she loved meeting so many people and hearing how supportive everyone was for the bears. 💚

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T-shirts today, Fri May 29th in Stonewall in support of the bear rescue! Thank you to the wonderful Janice and Don (go say hello….2 of the nicest people!) and Stonewall Home Hardware. 👏

05/27/2026

For an update on the quarry situation please read the CTV News Winnipeg article in the photos.

Thank you everyone for all your concern over the fate of Manitoba’s bear rescue, the hundreds of messages of support we’ve received, and for donating towards our legal costs. We’re so grateful to have you all behind us!

If anyone would like to contribute to our legal fund (or to the care of our current cubs) there are several ways to do so from anywhere in the world in the link below. Thank you!
https://www.blackbearrescuemanitoba.com/donate

~ Judy & Roger

05/27/2026

Winston at 7 weeks showing how black bears start out with blue eyes and a pink nose (his nose already starting to change to brown). A little tidbit about bears on this Winston Wednesday. 😊

05/25/2026

Even though he was frightened on his first night here and could have stayed inside as his brother did, the tiny Z cub brother cautiously backed out and away from their house to do his business…..very neat and tidy. Now with no mother he’s having to learn independence early and to make his own decisions.

05/24/2026