Bear badly burned after walking across flames during wildfire, Colorado officials say

A bear surrounded by flames was rescued and is being nursed back to health by wildlife officials, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.

The bear’s feet were badly burned Tuesday during the East Canyon fire, officials said. Firefighters saw the injured bear while responding to the fire about 30 miles west of Durango.

“You could tell it was really hurting,” Wildlife officer Steve McClung said in a news release.

Wildlife officers shot the 43-pound bear with a tranquilizer dart to sedate it, according to Parks and Wildlife. The bear was placed in a trap and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Michael Sirochman, veterinary manager at Frisco Creek, told Parks and Wildlife the bear’s paws will not be permanently damaged.

“The prognosis is good and the underlying tissue is healthy,” Sirochman said. “We cut off the burned tissue that was sloughing off, and we put on bandages.”

Typically bears that are taken to rehabilitation centers will be released near where they were found, Parks and Wildlife said.

“We always hate to see injured animals, but we’re pleased we were able to rescue this bear so we can nurse it back to health and return it to the wild,” Matt Thorpe, area wildlife manager in Durango, told Parks and Wildlife.