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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Room for improvement ... Electric Highway aims to spark more EV use ... Rogue River man held on murder charge ... Room for improvement ... Electric Highway aims to spark more EV use ... Rogue River man held on murder charge ... WILDLIFE Captured bear cub awaits her fate Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 8, 2015 at 5:41 PM Updated Jan 8, 2015 at 5:49 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 8, 2015 at 5:41 PM Updated Jan 8, 2015 at 5:49 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho » Social News State veterinarians could know as early as today whether a small and likely orphaned black bear cub captured Tuesday after it fell out of a Phoenix-area tree is a candidate for rehabilitation and eventual release. Blood and urine samples collected late Wednesday and sent to the Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis for a full biochemical workup will tell veterinarians whether they should pursue placing it in a rehab facility or euthanize it, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials. The cub, positively identified Wednesday as female, weighed only 13.2 pounds and appeared to have a moderate skin infection often associated with poor nutrition, according to wildlife officials. ODFW District Veterinarian Julia Burco said there is a "likely possibility" that the cub has been orphaned, and possibly for some time. "If it's that scrawny, mom's usually not around" to teach it foraging skills, Burco said. The cub was found upside down in blackberries beneath a tree in an area north of Phoenix, where the bear was spotted in several trees Monday, according to ODFW. The bear was placed in a cage and trucked Wednesday from ODFW's White City offices to the lab in Corvallis, where the samples were taken. It has since been moved to a holding facility at ODFW's E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area outside of Corvallis. One thing the cub doesn't have on its side is history. A small, cinnamon-colored cub caught running amok in the Rite Aid store in Ashland in late October did find a temporary home at a Lynnwood, Wash., state rehab facility, where it was set to remain until it could be released into the wild next spring. But it was later euthanized after it developed kidney failure, said Mark Vargas, ODFW's Rogue District wildlife biologist. One thing the female cub does have going for it, however, is that it's no teddy. "It seems to be feisty," Vargas says."But will it survive? The vets will make that call." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at  www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 8, 2015 at 5:41 PM Updated Jan 8, 2015 at 5:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501