Photographer Corey Hancock was hiking a trail in Oregon when he spotted something that turned out to be a baby bear on the brink of death.

 Hancock wrote that the bear was “laying there on his back, seeming by all appearances to be dead. His lips were blue. His eyes were open, but unmoving and hazy. The rain was pouring down, drenching his belly. I might have seen a shallow breath.”

“I thought about my own baby boy back home. The bear looked so much like an infant. Was I just going to stand there and watch it die in the rain? No… I needed to do something.”

So he took the bear with him and started running to his car. “The whole time, I was sure a raging mother bear would come for me.”

Once they got to the car, the baby bear stopped breathing. Hancock performed mouth-to-mouth and the animal started breathing again.

The rescuer took him to the vet where he is getting stronger everyday, being treated for severe dehydration and starvation.

However, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Hancock could have been fined $6,000 for helping the bear. Or even worse – sent off to a jail for a year. Luckily, there will be no punishment for this kind-hearted man.

Responses to " Man risks jail-time to save a dying baby bear that he came across while hiking"

  1. assissi3 says:

    Thank you Corey for your heart and courage. People like you make the world a better place.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Well done ...need more like you in the world

  3. Anonymous says:

    What a sweet little baby bear! Kudos and thank you Corey for picking it up and getting it to the vet where it will get the care that it needs. Since it was malnourished and dehydrated and lying there dying it is doubtful Mom was anywhere near this poor cub. Someone probably shot her. I would have done the same thing if I came across a dying baby bear. Fine, jail time, ok fine! I would never, ever, leave an animal in distress if there was something I could do to help it, especially a defenseless baby. I agree, when the new laws allow killing bear cubs and their moms while hibernating in their dens, and gasing wolf pups to death, yet fine and imprison someone who helps sick and dying wildlife, this country has gone to the dogs! What a crying shame.

  4. Unknown says:

    im glad he saved this little babies very kind

  5. dont go to jail if your wonderful hobby is killing bears and wolves BUT if you save a defenceless baby bear you can Have a fine or even go to jail...really??? I mean, are we out of our minds or whats the problem??maybe is because the air we breath or the water we drink???? O_0
    Now seriously, I would really like to know whats the issue to condemn you to jail if you save a wild animal.what is the rule you broke for the judge or government in the moment you save a life.

  6. MANCINI says:

    he did a very nice thing what a very nice man

  7. Anonymous says:

    I cannot believe they would fine him for saving this baby but just passed a law to make it legal to shoot bears during hibernation! Talk about having your priorities screwed up! Thank goodness this angel decided to take a chance and saved this little life! Bless you!

  8. Fines exist because so many people kidnap healthy animals from protected areas because they think they are sick or lost while the animals aren't actually in distress at all, the animal is the one who ends up paying more, potentially losing its family or even dying. It's obvious why this man was spared the fine, because he was helping an animal that was in trouble for real.

  9. Anonymous says:

    As a person from the Bear Clan. Wela'lin, for saving our brother!

  10. Bless you��

  11. Gaetano says:

    You my friend are the few that remain amongst humanity with compassion and bravery. You're awesome. I would have done the same. My love for animals and nature is infinite and so I see yours is as well. God bless.

  12. Anonymous says:

    It can only get worse, especially with this money grabbing government. Good luck to all the animals that had protection of some kind.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Totally agree with all the comments here. Heartfelt thanks to this very kind man who saved this little bear and took it to the vets. I, too, would help an animal in distress.

  14. Unknown says:

    Pilamaya Bearheart!

  15. Anonymous says:

    Of course you should get a fine and jail time. They are trying to kill them, not save them. What were you thinking? You are going against all that the gov. believes. The land belongs to man and no other creature.

  16. Unknown says:

    Thank you for saving the baby bear
    You are a true hero so happy you saved it
    �� you should never be punished for helping

  17. Unknown says:

    Bless this man for what he did to save this little bear.I would have done the same thing.All Gods creatures deserve to live.

  18. If they charge him a fine Go fund me is the answer. We can help him out.

  19. Anonymous says:

    May God bless this kind man, and may others learn from his compassion for our fellow animals.

  20. ja says:

    You are an animal angel for saving this baby! Thank you

  21. Unknown says:

    The world needs more men like this one. I'm so glad that you found and rescued this bear. Your a hero for the bear and to the people that love animals.

  22. Unknown says:

    May the universe return your act of kindness tenfold. And to the sick, depraved person who responded to your kindness in a negative response:
    We, as the more intelligent and resourceful beings on this planet need to understand we need to learn to co-exist with other types of creatures. No animal on this planet has done the harm we have or been the cause of as much destruction of our home, planet Earth as we have!
    To let a child die when you can save it, regardless of which animal it is, must take a heartless and cruel person. You can learn a lot from the sensitivity and kind hearts of others.

  23. Unknown says:

    The best of humanity in action

  24. Goddess says:

    Good people still in the world. Need more like you.

  25. If the world was only full of people like you...imagine. God Bless You!!

  26. Unknown says:

    Job well done!! Bears need to be saved. The law about killing bears in their dens is total garbage. I hope very few people actually do this. This baby needed saving so good on you!!

  27. Unknown says:

    the tears are running down my face as I read this - I do not know how to tell you how much love I feel in my heart when I have an opportunity to meet someone like this person may the world of blessings be yours as you help to heal this world

  28. In what state or states is it legal to shoot a hibernating animal, please! What is the reasoning behind such a law? When did it come into being?

  29. Parabéns pela atitude..saude pra vcs dois..

  30. Anonymous says:

    There are still a few remnants of magic and kindness left in this world. You are proof of that. God Bless you.

  31. Big lovable Hero! Thank you! I am so glad the little bear survived

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