Arkansas Man Petitions for Return of Pet Bear
OutdoorHub Reporters 09.12.13
Robert Baysinger of Marshall, Arkansas says his heart is broken after his “little girl” was taken from him. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission however, says that Baysinger cannot legally keep “Savannah,” the young black bear cub that Baysinger had been raising for six months.
“She’s part of my family,” Baysinger told KARK. “She’ll jump up in my arms. She’ll lay down in my lap and take her a nap.”
He had rescued the cub after the animal was injured in a prescribed burn. Left alone by its mother, Baysinger said he heard the animal’s screams in the aftermath of the fire.
“I picked it up. It couldn’t walk,” he explained. “Part of its fur had singed.”
For the next few days Baysinger kept a careful watch over the cub, hoping that its mother would return. When no bears came, Baysinger took it upon himself to feed and house the young animal. Over time, Baysinger said she became family, describing car rides he took her on and even trips to pick berries. After six months raising Savannah, Baysinger came home one day to find the cub gone and a note from the Game and Fish Commission taped to his door. Included was also a ticket, as keeping bears or any wildlife is illegal in the state. Wildlife officials say keeping Savannah may not only be dangerous for Baysinger, but may harm the bear’s chances for survival in the wild..
“This is not only about his safety but the bear’s safety as well,” said Game and Fish spokesperson Steve Wilson. “We all love bears. We all love wildlife. They’re cute and they’re cuddly but it’s called wildlife for a reason.”
Baysinger said he intended to release the bear but was waiting for the right time. Now, he is calling for the Game and Fish Commission to return the bear to him. The answer is a firm “no.” Currently the bear is being rehabilitated until it can be released safely into the wild. For the time being, wildlife officials are considering allowing Baysinger to visit.
Below is KARK’s report:
