Unusual animal found in California dumpster was hairless bear cub

Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in California said a creature with an unusual appearance that was rescued from a dumpster was found to be a female bear cub that had lost her hair.

The Bear League rescue group, based in Homewood, said a group of residents rescued the hairless animal from a dumpster last month and brought her to the organization when they realized she was a bear cub.

The Bear League said the cub, which had lost most of her fur due to a bad case of mange, was given emergency medical care for about a week to save her life.

"We've seen this condition before, it seems to result from the cub's mother being killed early in the season and then the very small young one tries desperately to make it on their own but goes hungry most of the time," the Bear League said in a Facebook post. "Their immune system is therefore terribly compromised and they succumb to mange and stunted growth."

California Department of Fish and Wildlife volunteers then brought the cub to The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in San Diego County, where caregivers said she has been putting on weight and returning to health.

The rescuers said they are keeping an eye on the cub, estimated to be about a year old, to see if she regrows her hair and can then eventually be released back into the wild.