A black bear born without front legs has been spotted thriving in the rugged mountains of West Virginia.
While such occurrences are not unheard of, it’s remarkable to witness how this bear has adapted, moving naturally as a biped—much like humans—due to the circumstances of its birth.
“The area he inhabits features some of the steepest terrain in the Appalachian mountains,” noted Kirk Price, a hunter and outdoor writer, on Instagram. “He navigates it effortlessly.”
In a video posted on his YouTube channel in 2022, Price shared his experiences with the bear, revealing he had been aware of its presence in the area for several years, having seen still images dating back to 2018. In the video, he described his close encounter with the bear as meeting “the toughest, baddest son-of-a-gun.”
Price remarked that the bear appeared healthy, showing no signs of being underfed. The encounter ended with the bear effortlessly climbing a steep hillside on its hind legs, seemingly without a care.
Based on Price’s observations, he estimates that this remarkable bear is around 8 years old. He explained that black bear cubs typically stay with their mothers for two years. Since the bear was not with its mother in the 2018 trail camera photos and didn’t seem particularly large, a birth year of 2015 or 2016 seems plausible.
In an interview with USA Today, Price addressed questions about whether traps might have caused the bear’s disability. He noted that the bear’s “clean nubs,” where its forelegs would normally be, do not resemble injuries typically inflicted by traps.
Additionally, the bear has never been seen with a single arm, suggesting that if a trap had caused its disfigurement, it would have had to lose both front limbs simultaneously or in quick succession, while also surviving the injuries and any resulting infections. Price emphasized that bear traps are now illegal and are generally disdained by modern hunters.
“I firmly believe he was born this way and has defied the odds. That’s what we should focus on. This bear is truly amazing,” Price told the news outlet.