‘Devastated’: Five bears die suddenly at Northern B.C. rescue

Gimlet, one of five bears that suddenly died at a B.C. sanctuary, is shown in this photo. (Credit: Northern Lights Wildlife Society)

A wildlife rescue in northern B.C. has been left reeling from the sudden deaths of five bears this week.

Northern Lights Wildlife Society provides sanctuary, rehabilitation to injured and orphaned wildlife—mostly bears, but also coyotes, moose, raccoons and cougars.

“I don’t even know how to begin this post,” an online statement from the organization posted on Wednesday said.

“We have faced hard times and loss before, but this is way out there.”

Four bears were found dead Monday morning in their enclosures and a fifth was showing signs of sickness. That bear died Wednesday and necropsies showed all five died of acute liver failure.

“We are now anxiously awaiting lab results. The shelter is under quarantine just to be safe until we get lab results and know what we are dealing with,” the statement from the rescue said.

“We are all under shock and devastated.”

Further updates will be shared as they become available, the statement said.

The organization also shared the names of the deceased animals, whose rescue stories are posted on its website.

Gimlet, a female black bear, was found underweight with a fractured leg near Trail in May 2025. After recovering from two surgeries, she was described as “feisty for her size” and unafraid to play with much larger male bears.

The second bear found deceased was Stout, a male rescued as an orphaned cub near Vernon in June who was growing into becoming a playful and active yearling.

Kokanee, who was rescued with a sibling after his mother was killed in a car accident also died, and his time at the shelter was marked by “hanging around the den with the boys.”

The final two deceased animals were Bacardi and Mimosa, a brother-sister due rescued from Dawson Creek last year after their mom was killed in a “suspected illegal shooting” and were among the sanctuary’s quieter, more observant bears.

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