Jul 10, 2009 12:22 pm US/Pacific
Bear Rescued From Fire Inspires Children's Book
REDDING (CBS13) ―
A bear cub whose rescue from a California wildfire and his battle to survive captured the hearts of animal lovers everywhere has now inspired a childrens' book. And it was written by the man who saved Li'l Smokey's life.
Firefighter Adam Deem has written a book about the bear cub he rescued from a wildfire in Northern California last summer. The cub then spent months recuperating at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center before being released back into the Klamath National Forest earlier this year.
Deem's book called "Saving Li'l Smokey" came out this week. He's selling on his website for $11.99 plus shipping. A portion of the profits from the book are going to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center.
Deem found the burned and badly dehydrated bear cub on the edge of the Moon Fire near the boundaries of Trinity and Shasta counties. Two of its claws were also either missing or severely damaged, and its mother was nowhere to be found. Li'l Smokey's injuries were so severe, it was unclear in the beginning if he would even survive.
Li'l Smokey was taken to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center where veterinarians and volunteers took months to nurse him back to health. He went from eight pounds to 90 pounds. In February, the California Department of Fish and Game released Li'l Smokey at a remote site in western Siskiyou County.
In April, Fish and Game officials picked up a signal from an electronic transmitter that was attached to one of the animal's ears. It showed Li'l Smokey had awakened from hibernation and traveled about 4 1/2 miles from his den.
Tom Millham of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, says the development is a "great indicator" of Li'l Smokey's health.
Adam Deem and others involved in Li'l Smokey's rescue will be having a reunion at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care center in about a week to celebrate the one year anniversary of Li'l Smokey's rescue.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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