Aug 1, 2008 8:20 am US/Pacific
'Li'l Smokey' Reunited With Rescuer
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CBS13) ―
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Firefighter Adam Deem, who rescued "Li'l Smokey", gets to hold and comfort the bear cub as he comes out of anesthesia after his check-up at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care center.
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Firefighter Adam Deem watches as Dr. Willitts checks on "Li'l Smokey's" burned paws.
"Li'l Smokey" had a big day getting his first major check-up and reuniting with the firefighter who rescued him from a Northern California wildfire. Firefighter Adam Deem traveled to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care center where "Li'l Smokey" has been recovering for two weeks.
Deem watched as Dr. Kevin Willitts changed Smokey's bandages on all four paws which have second and third degree burns.
Deem then got to hold and comfort Smokey as he was waking up from anesthesia. Li'l Smokey is also now wearing little booties over his bandages. Care workers hope the booties will help prevent Smokey from removing his own bandages which he has been known to do.
Dr. Willitts says all paws were making progress but cautioned that "Li'l Smokey" has extensive damage and may never be able to be released back into the wild.
He is not ruling it out, but says the odds are not with the cub. Still, the volunteers at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care center are working on Smokey daily as if he will be returned to the wild eventually.
At today's weigh in, Smokey tipped the scale at an even 15 pounds, 6 1/2 pounds more than when he arrived on Friday, July 18th.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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