Pocahontas Gets Into Cooling Shelter, Out Of 'Unbearable Heat'

Thanks to some community support, the 35-year-old black bear is resting comfortably this summer.

Pocahontas in front of her new cooling shelter at Red Wolf Sanctuary. Photo courtesy Red Wolf Sanctuary.

(Rising Sun, Ind.) – An aging rescue bear that has been roasting in the hot summer sun has found comfort in a new cooling shelter.

Some may be familiar with Pocahontas, a 35-year-old black bear at Red Wolf Sanctuary, that was rescued from a mosquito-laden backyard pen that she had languished in for 15 years.

Crippled by a poor diet and sloppy living conditions, Pocahontas had to be sedated before being moved to the sanctuary, where she has been living in a temporary outdoor enclosure. Due to the hot weather conditions, caretakers feared for Pocahontas’ life because of her refusal to hibernate or go into a cool tunnel.

An urgent plea was sent out to the community in May to help raise approximately $1,500 to provide the former pet a comfortable place to hibernate for the summer.

That plea was met with resounding support from the community, which allowed the sanctuary to purchase a large “Hutch” that arrived last week.

It took some persuasion, but Pocahontas was lured into the pen with Hostess Fruit pies and watermelons.

For more information, visit Red Wolf Sanctuary’s Facebook page.