Black bear cub burned in the Mustang Fire north of Salmon, Idaho. (AP)
BOISE, Idaho – A four-month-old bear with paws burned in an Idaho wildfire is healing faster than expected.
The Idaho Statesman reports the bear could be ready for release from care at the Idaho Humane Society to a wildlife sanctuary "in a couple of weeks."
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game hopes to eventually return the cub to the wild.
A short rehabilitation would be helpful in ensuring the young bruin doesn't become habituated to people.
If the bear recovers sufficiently and and hasn't become accustomed to humans, it could join four other orphaned black bear cubs at Snowdon Wildlifre Sanctuary near McCall.
Native habitat there would be an ideal halfway house, to prepare the bear for eventual release to Idaho's backcountry.
The bear was found Aug. 26 without its mother.
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